BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Local Kids’ World childcare centers are closing and Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County hope to take over their operations.
Kids’ World runs three centers in Bellingham and one in Ferndale with licensed openings for 532 children, and Boys and Girls Clubs CEO Heather Powell says they’re ready to step up.
But she says they would need financial help to keep the centers open.
The Bellingham City Council voted unanimously Monday night to provide an emergency grant of $100,000 to allow the Boys & Girls Club to step in.
The grant will cover near-term operational start-up costs, and would be funded as an amendment to the 2019-2020 biennial budget.
Powell says they will also need to be licensed for day care and reach lease agreements to take over Kids’ World’s existing facilities.
Those facilities currently have 532 licensed openings which is about 15% of the total number available for childcare in the county.