Child Care Business Development

Ten-year business and financial technical assistance program in partnership with Shore Bank-Cascadia Loan Fund that offers micro-loans to new and expanding child care businesses in Northeast Washington.

The goal of this program is to improve the quality of child care in Northeastern Washington by improving the business management capacity, the child care environment, and the financing structure of child care businesses. The program serves the nine counties of Eastern Washington: Spokane, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Whitman, Asotin, Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla.

A key aspect of the program is the business assessment, training, and techinical assistance offered to all applicants. The technical assistance staff helps to identify the business' goals and develop a financing and training plan to meet those goals. They also increase the provider's awareness of additional child care and business training resources and loan resources.

The Child Care Micro Loan Program has received two awards:

• In 1999, it was named as an Honoree in the Social COmpact Awards competition. The biennial Social Compact Awards recognized business success in lower-income markets and community partnerships that are strengthening local neighborhoods.
• In 2002, the program was highlighted as a Spokane County HUD best practice program in the area of economic and business development.