SPP Provider Facilities Fund - 2022

This opportunity is now closed and is expected to reopen May 8, 2023. View the 2022 awards announcement on DEEL's blog. 

The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is notifying any agency under contract to provide preschool services for the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) or the Pathway Program of a funding opportunity through the City of Seattle 2018 Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy. The FEPP Levy aims to achieve educational equity, close opportunity gaps, and build a better economic future for Seattle students.

The City of Seattle has provided quality supports to preschool providers and tuition assistance to families through levies since 2004. In 2015, the City launched SPP. Around the same time, DEEL also created a preschool program called Pathway to support providers transitioning to SPP by providing additional supports needed to meet SPP quality standards. The goal of SPP is for Seattle children to access and utilize high-quality early learning services that promote success in kindergarten, with the following outcomes:

• Children are kindergarten ready
• Learning environments are evidence based, high-quality, culturally responsive, and equitable
• Children and families have multiple ways to access high-quality early learning services
• Race-based opportunity gaps are closed  

In working with community to identify the challenges of participating in SPP, DEEL received feedback from partners citing the following as ongoing challenges for sustainability: (1) the lack of available and licensable space as a barrier to SPP program expansion, and (2) organizational capacity related to board development, fundraising plans, human resources, and financial management. DEEL will support in the improvement and expansion of early learning facilities and environments by investing in an annual SPP Provider Facilities Fund Request for Investment (RFI).

Who can apply and for how much money

Center, family, and school-based child care providers under contract with the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning to provide preschool services for the Seattle Preschool Program or SPP Pathway are eligible to apply.

Total available funding for the 2022-2023 SPP Providers Facilities Fund is $825,000.

• Family-based child care providers (FCCs) are eligible for awards up to $75,000.
• Center- and school-based providers are eligible for awards up to $500,000.

Types of projects that can be funded

The SPP Provider Facilities Fund will support capital projects that:

• Improve quality or help providers meet preschool facility licensing standards.
• Expand space in existing SPP preschool facilities.
• Start new facilities, either from the ground up or by substantially remodeling existing buildings to use as part of SPP.  

Allocations under this RFI will be made in the form of a grant tied to specific commitments to provide SPP services. Recipients will manage their own capital projects, and grant funds will be distributed to recipients based on negotiated project milestones.

How applicants will be selected

Funding will be awarded through a competitive request for investment process managed by DEEL. Applications will be evaluated using specific criteria outlined in the RFI application and review panel recommendations.

Timeline

Eligible applicants will submit a grant application online no later than 11:59 p.m. on June 12, 2022. DEEL will notify successful applicants by July 10, 2022.

*Dates subject to change 

How to Apply

For your reference, please click the link below to view the RFI Overview document linked below.  

Each of the following forms are required as part of your application for funding. Please be sure to complete each of the following:  

Use the following links to access forms and additional information you will need to apply for this funding opportunity. 

How to submit your application:  

Email your application to DEELFunding@seattle.gov. Please use the following naming convention in the subject line of your email and for the electronic files attached: “[Organization Name] -SPP Provider Facilities Funding.” 

How to submit questions:   

For questions, please contact: DEELFunding@seattle.gov with "Question: SPP Provider Facilities Funding" in the subject line.