SPOKANE, Wash. – A new round of grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce is set to expand capacity for childcare centers across the state facing problems with facilities.
The Health and Safety Minor Renovation Grant awarded $7 million in total. Roughly $570,000 are going to Spokane County providers including Nest Community School in the Spokane Valley.
“We’re trying to make this a school where all of the children and families in Spokane can grow and thrive,” Nest co-director Chelsea Inman said. “But there’s wasted space. We can’t occupy it.”
The bottom floor at their two-story location isn’t up to fire code. Student are relegated only to other parts of the building until renovations, including fire sprinklers, are installed throughout the whole complex.
Nest current cares for 40 kids in total with an active waitlist. The facility restriction cut their capacity in half; they should be able to care for 80 kids total.
“When I had my own son a waitlist, I was pregnant with him and he didn’t start at this small preschool that was also regio-inspired until he was three,” Nest co-director Heather Villa said. “Many families have to deal with this. They literally are on waitlists for years.”
Nest is already in touch with contractors to start the project. Inman expects the project to be complete this calendar year.
Other Spokane County grant winners include St. Anne’s Children & Family Center and Sun City Child Development Center.
St. Anne’s grant dollars will be used to install new floors, according to Catholic Charities Eastern WA Executive Director Anne Marie Byrd.
