Hundreds of ‘desperately needed’ child care spots in Whatcom saved by acquisition
The nonprofit Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County has acquired Kids’ World, allowing hundreds of families in Bellingham and Ferndale to retain child care.
Boys and Girls Clubs will take over operations March 1, the nonprofit announced in a news release on Friday, Feb. 28.
The 30-year-old child care business has six facilities on four campuses in Bellingham and Ferndale.
The Boys and Girls Clubs reached the acquisition agreement with Michael and Terri Waters. The Watters wanted to retire, according to the release.
Michael Watters, who originally indicated the facilities would close at the end of 2019 if another entity didn’t take it over, has been negotiating with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County since October.
Heather Powell, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County, told The Bellingham Herald in December that she expected the acquisition to occur in the first quarter of 2020.
Kids’ World has 532 licensed child care slots and its possible closure concerned parents and others who worried about the impact in Whatcom County, which already has a child care shortage. The businesses also employ 110 people.
To help preserve those child care slots, Bellingham and Whatcom County governments each set aside $100,000 for the effort to keep Kids’ World open. About 61% of the slots at Kids’ World receive state subsidies that help low-income families pay for child care.
Boys and Girls Clubs will lease the facilities as it works toward a plan to buy them, according to the release.
The nonprofit said in the release that the acquisition “retains over 530 licensed child care spots in Whatcom County that are desperately needed.”
The Watters donated the personal property including fixtures, furniture and equipment used to operate the centers and have worked with Boys and Girls Clubs on a smooth transition.
“We could not take over operations without their generosity and partnership,” said Heather Powell, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County.
“We are excited to extend our service to this community to include licensed care and can’t wait to know all of the new families we will be serving,” Powell said.
The acquisition marks the nonprofit’s entry into providing licensed child care.
