Seattle sends $5.3 million to more than 3,700 child care workers

(The Center Square) – More than 3,700 child care workers in Seattle are receiving a one-time payment of up to $1,380, the city’s largest direct payment to date.

The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning is utilizing a total of $5.3 million in Jumpstart Payroll Expense Tax funds for the payments. The city stated that the funds are intended to support the retention of child care workers.

“Child care workers – and a strong and stable workforce – are critical for ongoing pandemic recovery and healthy communities,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement. “Investing in our child care providers will ensure that the people who care for Seattle’s youngest learners can continue to provide them with high-quality early learning opportunities.”

The 3,750 workers receiving funds represent 500 child care provider agencies across the city, including center-based, school-age and family child care programs.

According to the city, about 72% of licensed child care providers in the city applied for the one-time payments on behalf of their staff. This year’s distribution to child care workers includes 46 first-time agencies receiving retention payments, 78% of which are family child care providers.

- Advertisement -

The payments are subject to administrative fees and taxes.

Including this latest $5.3 million payment, the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning’s partnership with BrightSpark Early Learning Services has delivered $13.5 million in direct funds to child care workers since 2021.

Previous awards include $2.4 million in August 2022, $2.9 million in December 2021, $2.3 million in February 2021, and $535,000 in general fund dollars supporting child care provider stabilization grants in May 2021.

“While additional investments are needed to advance wage equity in this sector, retention payments provide urgent financial relief for our city’s critical, yet historically underpaid, child care workforce,” said Dwane Chappelle, Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning director.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Helene: Baptists on Mission, Asheville Habitat among 14 awarded $9M

(The Center Square) – Baptists on Mission and Asheville...

Trump freezes $18 billion in NYC infrastructure over DEI policies

(The Center Square) — The Trump administration is freezing...

UC study reveals SoCal residents are struggling to get by

(The Center Square) - The University of California, Riverside...

Lawyers prepare to sue Trump ‘soon’ over H-1B changes

(The Center Square) – Employment immigration lawyers are preparing...

WATCH: Three-year drought forces unprecedented water restrictions in Yakima

(The Center Square) – A third consecutive year of...

AI chatbots a child safety risk, parental groups report

ParentsTogether Action and Heat Initiative, following a joint investigation,...

More like this
Related

Helene: Baptists on Mission, Asheville Habitat among 14 awarded $9M

(The Center Square) – Baptists on Mission and Asheville...

Trump freezes $18 billion in NYC infrastructure over DEI policies

(The Center Square) — The Trump administration is freezing...

Lawmakers, policy group sue WA agencies over failure to release climate data

(The Center Square) – A lawsuit was filed in...

UC study reveals SoCal residents are struggling to get by

(The Center Square) - The University of California, Riverside...