Washington, D.C. (January 27, 2022) — The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) has partnered with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to disburse the D.C. Child Care Stabilization Grant which will provide approximately $38 million to licensed child development facilities in the District. The grant will help facilities cover business costs associated with the pandemic, stabilize operations, and preserve the supply of child care for children and families as the District continues in its recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
“Child care is critical to equitable economic recovery across the region, supporting hundreds of small businesses, thousands of local jobs, and the ability for families to maintain household stability,” said Wacif CEO Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr. “We look forward to continuing to support relief initiatives that will strengthen our local child care sector and help D.C. families access important resources they need.”
The D.C. Child Care Stabilization Grant was established using federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. Nearly all child development facilities licensed by OSSE are eligible to receive funding through the grant and will receive their award through one of three organizations OSSE has partnered with to disburse grant funds: Wacif, the United Planning Organization (UPO), or Hurley & Associates.
372 child development facilities will receive their grant award through Wacif; together, these facilities will receive approximately $25 million. These facilities must complete the intake form established by Wacif in order to receive their award. Funds may be used to cover expenses such as personnel costs, rent or mortgage payments, facility maintenance, and improvements and mental health supports for children and early educators.
“OSSE is committed to ensuring D.C. families have access to early care and education programs where their children can thrive. Our investments in the child care sector have helped facilities sustain and grow their operations; there are more licensed child care slots in D.C. today than before the public health emergency,” said State Superintendent of Education Christina Grant. “OSSE will continue to work with partners like Wacif to provide child development facilities in the District the resources and supports they need through and beyond the COVID-19 recovery period.”
Since 2020, Wacif has distributed $14 million in relief to hundreds of child development facilities across Washington, D.C., helping create and retain more than 4,500 jobs. This timely partnership exemplifies Wacif’s comprehensive efforts to support the Greater Washington region’s economic recovery. Throughout 2021, Wacif served as a trusted partner for various public, private and government entities, deploying more than $12 million in comprehensive financial relief, and providing business advisory service programs to support small businesses with economic recovery across the region. In 2020, Wacif deployed over $11 million in capital through grants, debt relief, and loans to more than 1,800 entrepreneurs, supporting nearly 19,000 jobs as a response to the COVID-19 public health and economic crises.
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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.