Most Washington child care business owners don't realize a capital budget provision could generate indirect revenue through local infrastructure projects.
When Washington's SB6003 capital budget passed, most child care owners didn't notice Section 1012—a provision that authorizes $379.5 million in Public Works Board grants and loans to local governments for infrastructure projects. But this buried language could mean real business opportunities for your operation, your suppliers, and your service providers.
The Public Works Board will distribute $379.5 million to local governments across Washington for infrastructure projects. These aren't small grants. They fund significant public works—water systems, sewer upgrades, roads, and other essential infrastructure that communities need.
For child care owners, this matters in two ways: indirectly and directly.
Indirect benefits: When local governments receive these grants, they hire contractors, purchase materials, and buy services to complete projects. If your child care center uses local suppliers, contractors, or service providers—plumbers, electricians, construction companies, office suppliers, landscapers—those businesses may win work on publicly funded projects. That increased local economic activity can create a ripple effect in your community.
Direct benefits: If your child care operation qualifies as a small water or sewer utility or port district under Washington's chapter 43.155 RCW, you may be eligible to apply directly for grants or loans through this program. This is a narrower category, but worth checking if it applies to your situation.
The grant and loan authority is effective April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. This is the window during which the Public Works Board will be awarding funds. Local governments will likely begin planning and submitting applications before April 2026, so infrastructure projects could be underway during and after this period.
If you're planning facility improvements, expansions, or upgrades to your child care center, knowing that local contractors and suppliers may have increased capacity and cash flow during this period could affect your timing and pricing negotiations.
Start by checking whether your child care operation might qualify as a small utility or port district under RCW 43.155. If it does, you'll want to monitor Public Works Board announcements about the grant application process.
Even if you don't qualify directly, stay connected with your local government and your regular contractors and suppliers. They'll be aware of these opportunities, and understanding their project pipeline can help you plan your own business decisions more strategically.
The provision is found in Section 1012 on page 19 of SB6003. For a detailed, business-specific guide to how this program works and whether your child care operation might benefit, resources are available through your local chamber of commerce or child care trade association.