Port Projects In April 2024, the Port of Whitman County Commission accepted the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Child Care Partnership Grant to do a feasibility study on childcare in Colfax. The Port received a two-year grant of up to $20,000 in the first year and $55,000 in the second year.
The study, concluded in 2025, was split into two phases.
Phase 1 Goals
- Develop guiding principles for Colfax Child Care Study and future project development.
- Identify potential locations for renovation or new building within the City of Colfax for childcare.
- Create a program to determine area requirements for building and site square footage requirements.
View the Phase 1 study results.
Phase 2 Goals
- Finalize site selection, assess site, develop conceptual floor plan, site plan and three dimensional designs.
- Conduct outreach to solicit feedback from the community on need and regional tuition rates, target direct communication with existing providers to understand wait lists, challenges and determine interest in running a facility in Colfax.
- Develop construction budget for constructing the agreed upon facility design.
- Define potential next steps for Port beyond completion of this study.
View the Phase 2 study results. View the final drawings here.
Washington Department of Children, Youth & Families found in July 2024 that current childcare options only meet 23.3% of Whitman County's estimated need. Whitman County also severely lacks infant care needs, with only 13.4% of the estimated need for infant childcare met by current childcare options.
Despite this significant gap, Whitman County's childcare capacity actually decreased by 166 childcare slots between 2019 and 2023, according to data by Child Care Aware.
In October 2024, the Port surveyed local employers, community members, and families to learn of the need for childcare in Colfax.
The 75 respondents expressed top challenges in seeking childcare as childcare availability, cost, and hours of available care. Respondents also shared that additional childcare options in Colfax and the surrounding areas would benefit both businesses and families.
Community members fill out the community survey at the Colfax Chamber of Commerce's quarterly luncheon.
"Childcare is extremely difficult to find in the area. After moving to the area it took me months to find childcare for my 3 year old before I could begin looking for work. Even at that my child attends daycare in a different city".
Survey Respondent
"I have staff members who have decreased their hours of work due to not finding childcare. This impacts our ability to provide services.... Recruitment is challenging".
Local Employer
"I’m currently pregnant and having trouble finding child care. If I cannot find care I will be forced to quit working".
Survey Respondent
In January 2026, the Port closed on the former Rogers Brothers Seed Company property, located adjacent to the Colfax Junior-Senior High School.
Environmental Site Assessment found evidence of environmental contamination on the site. The Port is exploring options for cleanup of those contaminants.
An aerial image of the property being explored by the Port of Whitman County (outlined in red). Image courtesy of Google Maps.
