thread is excited to reopen the Steady Child Care: Municipality of Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Sector Stimulus Program in 2026. Through this program, we continue working alongside the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Board (ACCEE), the Municipality of Anchorage Assembly, and the Mayor’s Office of the Municipality of Anchorage to strengthen child care across our community.
Funding for this program comes from the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Fund. Approximately $2.3 million will be available in 2026 to support eligible Municipality of Anchorage licensed child care programs and ACA accredited day camps.
At thread, we bring 40 years of experience supporting Alaska’s early childhood system. We will administer the program, distribute stimulus payments, support programs through the application process, and provide technical assistance along the way. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to helping child care and early education programs remain open, sustainable, and strong for families.
This funding helps programs address real challenges they face every day, including staffing, operations, and facility needs. When child care programs stay strong, families and communities across Anchorage benefit.
What’s New in 2026
This year, we are expanding the program to better support the child care sector.
In 2026, Steady Child Care will include two application periods and two funding payments, instead of one round as offered last year. This approach allows us to support programs throughout the year and creates additional access to funding. We have also updated the program’s eligibility approach.
These updates help ensure that more programs have the opportunity to participate, including programs that become licensed or accredited later in the year.
Programs that are licensed or accredited during both application periods may apply and receive funding during each round.
First Application Period
The first application period will open: April 2 through April 26, 2026.
Programs must submit a completed application and all required attachments during this timeframe. Programs that operate multiple sites must submit a separate application for each licensed or accredited location.
We plan to begin distributing funds in May 2026.
Eligibility
Steady Child Care supports child care programs that serve families in the Municipality of Anchorage.
To qualify, programs must meet the following requirements:
- Be located within the Municipality of Anchorage
- Be licensed by the Municipality of Anchorage or be an accredited day camp through the American Camp Association
Programs that meet these requirements and complete the application during the designated period may be eligible for funding.
Supporting Child Care Across Anchorage
“At thread, we believe strong child care programs build strong communities. This program reflects our continued partnership with local and statewide leaders who care deeply about early childhood education. We continue this work alongside partners such as the Municipality of Anchorage, the State of Alaska, and the Mat-Su Health Foundation. Together, we are working toward a stable and sustainable child care system that supports educators, families, and young children across Anchorage.” – Melinda Myers, thread’s Chief Operating Officer.
After the final application period, all funded programs will receive a post-application survey. Programs must complete this survey. Completion helps us evaluate the program’s impact and may affect eligibility for future funding opportunities.
If you operate a licensed child care program or an ACA accredited day camp in Anchorage, we encourage you to apply and connect with us for support during the process.