Two Anchorage Child Care and Early Education funding opportunities now available

Two funding opportunities for local child care programs and early education providers are available this April from the Anchorage Child Care & Early Education (ACCEE) Fund. These grants will support programs that provide essential child care and early education services to children and families across the Municipality.

"Access to affordable, high-quality child care is the backbone of a thriving community," said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. "By investing in our early education system, we are empowering parents to stay in the workforce and strengthening our entire economy."

"These programs are creatively addressing challenges and allowing child care providers to respond to their own unique needs, showcasing the ACCEE Fund's role in fueling innovative, real-world solutions that strengthen the early care and education system," said Christina Hulquist, Executive Director of the ACCEE Fund.

Pilot project and capital grants

The ACCEE Fund Pilot Project and Capital grant funding opportunity was released on March 5, 2026, and proposals will be accepted until April 10, 2026. These funds drive innovation, increase access to quality, affordable child care, and invest in a sector that strengthens families and the broader Anchorage workforce and economy.

In 2025, 20 out of nearly 50 proposals received were awarded funding. These projects ranged from small capital improvements, like playgrounds and flooring, to program expansions that increased capacity for infants and toddlers. Other transformative pilot projects included converting empty Anchorage School District classrooms into rent-free licensed early learning rooms, credentialing and leadership programs, and a feasibility study to help employers pursue innovative child care solutions.

For more information, visit www.careforkidsanchorage.com/get-involved.

Operational assistance

The second opportunity is an operational assistance program, Steady Child Care, administered by thread Alaska. In 2025, this program successfully supported 198 eligible programs, distributing approximately $2.3 million to address the ongoing financial challenges faced by early childhood providers.

The funds support daily operations, staffing, and infrastructure, aiming to reduce employee turnover and increase access to child care for Anchorage families. In 2025, 90% of the organizations receiving funding reported that the financial assistance helped them maintain capacity and avoid closures, and 30% said they were able to increase the number of children they served.

This year's application for funding opened on April 2nd and will run through April 26th, with funds expected to be distributed in May. thread Alaska also plans to distribute a second round of funding in the fall of 2026.

For more information, visit www.threadalaska.org/thread/educators-and-programs/early-education-programs/grants/steady/.

About the ACCEE Fund

The ACCEE Fund is in its second year of operation. It dedicates the Municipality's cannabis tax revenue to supporting the community's child care system. This landmark initiative was proposed by Mayor LaFrance and Assembly Member Kameron Perez-Verdia and approved by voters in 2023.

In addition to the current grant opportunities, the ACCEE Fund supports an ongoing Child Care Subsidies program, operated by Alaska Family Services, which keeps child care providers in the workforce. It also funds eight early learning classrooms at the Anchorage School District.

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Media contact:

Christina Hulquist, ACCEE Fund Executive Director
[email protected]
1-907-343-6509​

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