Pierce Co. Labor wins apprenticeship, childcare grant

Funds support innovative renovation of elementary school into center for registered apprenticeship training and childcare services

TACOMA, WA (January 28, 2025) — The Pierce County Labor Community Services Agency (PCLCSA) announced an award of $10,000 in U.S. Conference of Mayors Dollarwise Grant funding, supporting planning the transformation of the former Willard Elementary School in Tacoma’s east side to serve as an innovative hub for workforce development and a sustainable provider of childcare services for Tacoma’s working families.

“This project is a game-changer for Tacoma and Pierce County,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards. “By investing in our community and providing critical resources like childcare and training, we are creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. This funding will help us meet our commitment to workforce development and equitable access to resources.”

The hub co-locates 24-hour childcare services with registered apprenticeship training programs, seeking to remove barriers to employment and create pathways to economic mobility for historically excluded populations.

The grant funding will enable the PCLCSA to develop a comprehensive business plan, conduct baseline data collection, and design the facility’s layout and staffing structure. The plan will also include strategies for long-term sustainability and community engagement.

“Our initiative is more than a renovation; it’s a revolution in how we address childcare and training pathways in our community,” said PCLCSA President Nathe Lawver.

The facility will house classroom learning spaces for registered apprenticeship readiness programs and offer flexible childcare options, creating new opportunities for workers- beginning with construction, and moving into other job sectors such as first responders, health care, hospitality, and retail.

Lack of childcare is a growing barrier to apprenticeship, a tried and tested pathway to economic security for working people. This project seeks to meet an immediate needs, and invests in the future by fostering education, career growth, and community. With childcare access a major issue nationwide, it’s a model way forward for Pierce County and beyond.

The Pierce County Labor Community Services Agency is the 501(c)(3) arm of the Pierce County Central Labor Council whose purpose is to serve the community in providing assistance to families, individuals, seniors, and the disabled, and those under-served populations within our community. PCLCSA provides service needs in food, clothing, and fundamental resources that provide access to individual self-sufficiency, self-confidence, independent living, and to enhance the quality of life.