The Steady Child Care: Municipality of Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Sector Stimulus Program application period will open on the thread website on April 2, 2026, and closes on April 26, 2026. All applications must be received by 11:59 pm on April 26, 2026.

All eligible programs must be located in the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). The eligible program types are:

• Licensed Child Care Program through the Municipality of Anchorage
• American Camp Association (ACA) Accredited Program

A Licensed Child Care Program: A child care program that is licensed by the Municipality of Anchorage to provide child care services.

An ACA-Accredited Program: A day camp providing child care services that is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA).

No. Programs that are closed or not currently operating are not eligible to apply.

Yes. Programs that are licensed or accredited during both application periods may apply and receive funding for each period.

• For MOA licensed child care programs, “open and operating” means your program is currently open and actively serving children.
• For ACA-accredited day camps, “open and operating” means you have a staffed office and plan to serve children during the 2026 calendar year.

Licensed capacity is the maximum number of children allowed to be present at one time, as determined by MOA Child Care Licensing.

This is the number of children currently enrolled in your program.

Average weekly attendance is the estimated average number of children an ACA-accredited day camp expects to serve each week in 2026. This estimate should be based on the camp’s average weekly attendance during the 2025 calendar year.

Report the number of unique children currently served in your program.

Enrollment is the number of children enrolled in your program at a given time. This number may be higher than your licensed capacity if you offer part-time care, or lower due to factors such as staffing shortages or other program limitations.

The application will ask for both current enrollment and desired enrollment. This information helps thread and MOA Child Care Licensing understand trends in the child care field and identify barriers programs may face in reaching full enrollment.

• The exact amount of financial support will be determined after all eligible applications are processed. This ensures we maximize money to you and expend all resources in the available project
• Funding amounts for eligible licensed child care programs will be based on licensed capacity
• Eligible ACA accredited day camps will receive flat funding amounts
• Additional dollars may be added for other services provided

In calendar year 2026, thread will offer two application periods for eligible MOA licensed child care programs and ACA accredited programs. The purpose of having two application periods is to support programs throughout the year and ensure that newly licensed programs or accredited programs (those not yet licensed or accredited during the first application period) have a second opportunity to apply for funding.

Funding for the Steady Child Care: Municipality of Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Sector Stimulus Program comes from the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Fund. Approximately $2.3 million will be available in 2026 for eligible programs.

In calendar year 2026, thread will offer two application periods for eligible MOA licensed child care programs and ACA accredited programs. The purpose of having two application periods is to support programs throughout the year and ensure that newly licensed programs or accredited programs (those not yet licensed or accredited during the first application period) have a second opportunity to apply for funding.

Yes, programs with multiple sites must submit an application for each licensed or ACA accredited site.

Yes, the funding application can be translated into different languages. Instructions for how to access these translations appear at the top of the application.

Yes. If you require assistance, please email thread at: initiatives@threadalaska.org and request technical assistance.

Yes. Licensed child care programs must enter their AKCCIS number on the application form. This number will be identified and verified by thread.

The AKCCIS number is assigned by the MOA and will appear on the program’s license or on formal correspondence from them.

ACA accredited day camps must enter their ACA certificate number on the application form.

If you cannot locate your AKCCIS number in the new platform, you may use your ICCIS number instead.

Yes. thread needs to have a current, accurate IRS Form W9 on file in order to approve the application. All funding applications are required to upload a current, completed, and signed IRS Form W9.

Incomplete or incorrect forms may delay the application processing time. Information on how to complete the IRS Form W9 is available on the application form. The IRS Form W9 can be downloaded here.

If you make an error completing your IRS Form W9, you can cross out the error, but it must be initialed by you, indicating that you recognized the error, crossed it out, and completed the field with the correct response. Alternatively, you can complete and sign a new form without errors. No type of correction product (liquid, tape, etc.) can be used on an IRS Form W9.

Common issues include:

• An incorrect EIN or SSN.
• The name does not match IRS records.
• A missing signature.

Yes. It is acceptable to upload a photo of IRS Form W9 as long as it is legible and all of the required fields appear in the photo.

Your application processing may be delayed until a correct W-9 is received.

Enrollment is different than capacity. “Enrollment” is the number of children enrolled in the program at any given time. “Capacity” or “Licensed Capacity” is determined by the MOA Child Care Licensing and is the number of children permitted to be present at any one time. The number of enrolled children may be greater than the licensed capacity due to part-time enrollments. The number may be smaller due to factors like staffing shortages, concerns about health and safety, etc.

The application does ask for enrollment numbers, both current enrollment and desired. This information helps thread and MOA Licensing understand trends in the child care field and what current barriers you may be facing to achieve enrollment.

If you are an ACA-accredited day camp, you will be asked to self-report your program’s allowable capacity and desired capacity. The application will also ask how many weeks per year your site provides care and the average weekly enrollment at each site.

Yes. Participation in a follow-up survey is required and agreeing to participate is part of the application. This helps thread and the ACCEE fund evaluate program impact and identify future needs. After the final application period, all funded programs will be sent a post-application survey. Completion of this survey is required; failure to do so may affect eligibility for future funding.

Immediately after you submit the application, you will receive a “thank you” message on the screen that your application was submitted for review. This lets you know that your application was received and is being reviewed by thread.

If thread has questions regarding your application, you will be notified by email and/or phone. You will have the opportunity to submit any missing information or correct any mistakes. The goal is for every eligible child care and early education entity to receive funding.

If your address or phone number changes after your application has been submitted, please contact thread at initiatives@threadalaska.org

If thread staff have questions about your application, you will be contacted by email and/or phone. It is the applicant’s responsibility to be monitoring both those communication tools during the application process through payment if the applicant is awarded.

thread aims to respond within two business days. During busy periods, responses may take slightly longer, but we will follow up as soon as possible.

Yes. Some calls from thread may come from a 1-800 number. If we reach out and you miss the call, a thread representative will leave a voicemail and follow up with an email.

Please be aware of scammers. thread will never ask you for money.

thread will issue two payments in 2026, and eligible programs may apply during each application period.

In calendar year 2026, thread will offer two application periods for eligible MOA licensed child care programs and ACA accredited programs. The purpose of having two application periods is to support programs throughout the year and ensure that newly licensed programs or accredited programs (those not yet licensed or accredited during the first application period) have a second opportunity to apply for funding.

There is no time limit by which the funds need to be spent as long as it is spent on the approved categories listed on the application. It is important to keep records in the event your program is audited.

No. The Steady Child Care: Municipality of Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Sector Stimulus Program funds do not have to be repaid. thread recommends those awarded funding to keep and maintain records and other documentation showing how the funds were used.

There may be tax implications for your program. Please consult with the IRS, an accountant, or tax specialist for guidance. For tax purposes, recipient child care and day camp programs are considered the “beneficiary” of these funds and thread is the “intermediary.”