In this July 2021 photo, children wait for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to make an announcement about child care subsidies in Santa Fe, New Mexico. That state, like Washington and others, provided millions in federal pandemic relief funds to childcare providers to help them pay for everything from labor costs to rent. The Spokane Alliance is now seeking to have the county in Eastern Washington invest more federal dollars into local programs as a stabilizing measure. 

Cedar Attanasio/AP Images

The Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of churches, unions and community groups representing more than 20,000 adults in Spokane County, is holding a public meeting Thursday night to call on local leaders to make serious investments in child care, hoping that it can persuade leaders to direct $10 million of more than $200 million in ARPA money that is coming to Spokane, Spokane Valley and Spokane County.

The Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of churches, unions and community groups representing more than 20,000 adults in Spokane County, is holding a public meeting Thursday night to call on local leaders to make serious investments in child care, hoping that it can persuade leaders to direct $10 million of more than $200 million in ARPA money that is coming to Spokane, Spokane Valley and Spokane County.

We made the front page of the Spokesman-Review for our Community Health Program! The goal, Sciammas said, was to get patients “the medical information they need to feel competent in their healing if their symptoms are improving, or if they are on the verge of not being OK.”

Spokane Alliance says affordable housing has been an issue in Spokane for many years and is only becoming a bigger issue. They say the levy 1590 is a chance for Spokane to be a leader and make change without Olympia stepping in.

Spokane Alliance – a coalition of labor unions and faith leaders – requested about $4 million for vouchers families can use for child care and other funds to support struggling child care businesses.

Spokane Alliance was interviewed and featured on KXLY news! The work they’re doing even caught Governor Inslee’s attention during Thursday’s visit to Spokane. Inslee says he wants to see more of these programs state-wide. 

KREM2 News captures Governor Inslee meeting with essential workers in Spokane, WA. 

Some workers touched on the struggles they're facing and hardships related to getting their hands on protective equipment.

Speakers at the roundtable discussion, including hospital workers, grocery store employees and those in childcare, spoke about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spokane public health officials have recruited medical and nursing students to be part of an enhanced contact tracing team. Their job will be to contact and follow people who test positive for the coronavirus. One Washington State University medical student is already involved in a similar effort.