In mid-October, AWC hosted an engaging discussion with policymakers, cities, and childcare advocates on some of the things that cities can do to promote access to childcare in their communities. While cities are not traditionally childcare providers themselves, there are things that cities can do to improve access to childcare and promote childcare providers within their borders.

Not only is affordable childcare a critical need for city residents generally, it’s also an important thing to think about for cities as employers – much of the best talent that local governments rely on needs access to childcare and cities can’t attract the right people if there is no place for their kids. Cities can contribute in a meaningful way to promoting childcare access in their communities, and this listening session touched on only a few of the ways that cities can make a difference.

In our 80-minute discussion, we heard from five speakers, including:

• Senator Claire Wilson (Legislative Distrist 30 – Federal Way)
• Representative Emily Alvarado (Legislative Distrist 34 – Seattle)
• Aleksandr Yeremeyev, Economic Development Director at City of SeaTac
• Tiffany Speir, Planning Division Manager at City of Lakewood
• Genevive Stokes, Director of Government Relations at Childcare Aware of Washington

Sen. Wilson and Rep. Alvarado highlighted some of the recent history of childcare policy in Washington and overviewed some of the recent and upcoming childcare policy issues being addressed at the legislature. Some of those upcoming issues include childcare workforce development, universal pre-K access, childcare service business development, addressing “childcare deserts,” financing and siting early learning facilities, and planning for childcare.

The next set of presenters were examples of some of the things that Washington cities are doing right now to address childcare access in their communities. The City of SeaTac presented on their childcare startup program, which uses ARPA funds to help set up new in-home childcare providers in partnership with the Imagine Institute. The City of Lakewood presented on their efforts to improve their zoning and make it easier to site childcare providers in more parts of the city.

The listening session was rounded out by childcare advocacy organization Childcare Aware, who shared an overview of the state of childcare in Washington and the challenges facing childcare providers, workforce, and parents. According to the presentation, employee turnover, absenteeism, and lost family income due to childcare issues cost Washington’s economy $6 billion in 2023. The presentation also highlighted some of the things that cities can do to improve childcare access, including:

• Integrating childcare into local land use comprehensive plans.
• Amend zoning and development regulations to remove unnecessary barriers to expanding childcare facilities or encourage development.
• Provide technical assistance and support to childcare facilities for land use, and dedicate staff to managing childcare facility permits.
• Coordinated regulation of childcare facilities in business licensing, zoning, fire & safety, and building codes.
• Streamline and standardize local childcare regulations in accordance with best practices between state and local governments.

You can access some of the meeting materials here:

• City of SeaTac’s presentation
• City of Lakewood’s presentation
• MRSC’s series Reducing Barriers to Childcare Facilities, Part 1 & Part 2