Child care grants adding nearly 30 spaces in Bellingham preschools

Bellingham Herald - 3/19/2024

Mar. 19—Two Bellingham preschool programs are among the recipients of $30.4 million in grants to early learning centers across the Washington, with funding from the state Department of Commerce and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Gabriel's Art Kids, which has locations in the Lettered Streets neighborhood, is receiving $600,000 for projects that will add 19 spaces. A Child's Life Learning Center received $57,876 to add 10 spots.

Quality child care is a key issue for working families in Whatcom County. Several new housing projects include child-care centers, and voters recently passed a 10-year tax for children's education.

"Access to child care is foundational for working parents and a critical component for equitable participation in the economy," Commerce Department Director Mike Fong said in a statement announcing the grants earlier this month.

Art Kids founder Gabriel Miles told The Herald that she'll be renovating classrooms at the school's D Street location, hopefully by next summer or the fall of 2025.

"I've got a waitlist that would easily fill two more classrooms," Miles said.

Mile said in a phone call that her programs focus on the arts, including dance and movement, theater, languages and culinary studies.

Programs include the Robert Williams School, a private elementary school; early childhood learning; after-school programs; and summer camps.

"It's child care, yes. But for me, it's arts education. I want to provide this to as many kids as I can," Miles said.

The other grant recipient, A Child's Life, is part of Abundant Life church and has an early childhood program consisting of pre-kindergarten instruction.

Mindy Drewer, one of the school's directors, told The Herald that the grant will allow classroom remodeling.

"It expanded the numbers (of children) that we can take. We put in a sink and new flooring," Drewer said.

___

Visit The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) at www.bellinghamherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.