Washington, D.C. (May 25, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) has joined D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the state education agency for Washington, D.C., to launch the second round of the D.C. Child Care Provider Relief Fund (the Fund). The $10.7 million fund provides direct, emergency grant relief funding to eligible child care facilities in the District of Columbia to ensure the availability of child care support for District families and to strengthen the recovery of child care businesses.
“Supporting District child care providers is critical to driving a robust, sustained economic recovery and directly aligns with our commitment to support the resilience of small businesses in our communities,” said Wacif CEO Harold Pettigrew. “This partnership with Mayor Bowser and OSSE provides critical and timely support, and we are grateful to be called upon again as a trusted partner in the District’s economic recovery.”
“Child care is a crucial component of our District’s education system, along with K-12 schools and higher education, that deserves ongoing public support,” said Interim State Superintendent of Education Shana Young. “Along with other strategies Mayor Bowser and the District have put in place during the public health emergency, these funds will help ensure that child care providers can continue their crucial work supporting families and preparing children to succeed in school.”
Child care facilities in the District that are licensed by OSSE as of May 15, 2021 and are not receiving ESSER II funds are eligible to receive an award through the Fund. Wacif initiated notifications May 20 to eligible child care grant recipients outlining steps to complete the necessary intake forms to process the grant award. Child care providers are encouraged to submit the intake form and required documents as soon as possible to ensure there are no delays with processing grant awards. Those prospective recipients must complete the steps outlined in the email notification before the portal closes on June 11, 2021. Any inquiries regarding the status of a child care provider license should be directed to OSSE by emailing .
The second round of the D.C. Child Care Provider Relief Fund reflects Wacif’s role as a key, trusted partner in the D.C. area’s economic recovery. In 2020, Wacif served as a lead partner in Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Small Business Recovery Microgrant program, part of more than $11 million in comprehensive financial relief Wacif deployed to more than 1,800 entrepreneurs, ultimately supporting almost 19,000 jobs in the District. In recognition of its impact in 2020, Wacif received the Washington Business Journal’s Citizenship Award for launching a small business resilience fund with market research firm Morning Consult, as well as receiving Mayor Bowser’s Spirit of Service Award for launching innovative public private partnerships to support small businesses. Wacif is continuing to launch new initiatives and partnerships to drive the region’s recovery, including the Enterprising Women of Color DMV Business Center launched earlier this year, and the Greater Washington Small Business Resilience Center, which began operating in April and will formally launch later this summer.
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About the Washington Area Community Investment Fund
The Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) is one of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on small business development. Wacif’s mission is to increase equity and economic opportunity in underserved communities in the Washington, D.C. area by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low-and-moderate-income entrepreneurs. To learn more about Wacif’s mission, visit www.wacif.org.