2025 Child Care Staff Retention Payments

Applications for this funding opportunity open on Monday, February 3, 2025. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 28, 2025.

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The Seattle Department of Education & Early Learning (DEEL) and BrightSpark Early Learning Services are partnering to distribute up to $2.8 million in Seattle Child Care Staff Retention Payments with funding allocated from the City’s 2024 budget. This initiative and one-time payment aims to support and retain the essential workforce that provides high-quality early learning experiences for Seattle’s children. 

Please note: Changes to the funding process and timeline may occur. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking this webpage for technical assistance information, updates, clarifications, or amendments. 

Who can apply and for how much money:

Eligibility for the 2025 Seattle Child Care Staff Retention Payments is as follows:  

• The staff person has been an employee at the program since at least February 3, 2025 and at the time the application is submitted continues to be employed by the eligible child care program. 
• Family Child Care (FCC) and center-based programs located within the City of Seattle boundaries and licensed by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) are eligible to apply. 
• The employer must submit the application. In the case of FCC providers, the licensee must apply.
• Payments will be awarded through a non-competitive process–all applications received during the application period will be considered for eligibility and equal funding.  
• Businesses receiving funds will be responsible for distributing payments to eligible staff via the program’s payroll system.  

License exempt and Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers are not eligible for this initiative. 

Programs located in unincorporated King County or cities other than Seattle are not eligible for this initiative. Unsure? Click here to verify.

Each child care worker will receive the same payment amount. The total amount awarded for each eligible child care worker will depend on the total number of eligible employees identified in applications.     

Timeline*

To be considered for funding, employers must submit the application by 11:59 pm PST on Friday, February 28, 2025. Applications will notify applicants of awards in March 2025.   

*Dates subject to change

How to Apply:

Applications will open on February 3, 2025. 

Click the link below to access the application survey. Be sure to read the frequently asked questions document containing program and personnel eligibility details before beginning the application.  

If you are unable to submit the application survey, a PDF version may be submitted to DEELfunding@seattle.gov.  

Applications must be submitted by Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.   

Additional Assistance:

For additional assistance, contact your Early Achievers coach, or BrightSpark’s Provider Line at 1 (800) 446-1114, or the grants team at grants@childcare.org.

የቋንቋ እርዳታ አለ።  1 (800) 446-1114  
提供语言协助。 1 (800) 446-1114 
Kaalmada luqadda waa laga heli karaa.  1 (800) 446-1114
Gargaarsi afaanii ni jira.  1 (800) 446-1114
Hay asistencia disponible en varios idiomas.  1 (800) 446-1114
ናይ ቋንቋ ሓገዝ ክርከብ ይኽእል እዩ።  1 (800) 446-1114
Có sẵn hỗ trợ bằng ngôn ngữ.  1 (800) 446-1114

Another Opportunity for King County Child Care Workers

On February 10, Best Starts for Kids is launching the Child Care Wage Boost Pilot to distribute $25 million to full-time and part-time child care workers in King County. Applications close March 7. Read more here.