A Tacoma labor nonprofit has purchased the Willard Early Learning Center and plans to convert it into a childcare and workforce training hub on the city's eastside.

The Pierce County Labor Community Services Agency (PCLSCA), the nonprofit arm of the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, announced the acquisition Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The agency said it will transform the building into Pierce Labor's Childcare and Workforce Education Center within the next year, as first reported by South Sound Biz.

The center will initially offer 200 childcare slots during nontraditional hours at no or low cost, according to the PCLSCA website. The slots target workers whose shifts fall outside a typical 9-to-5 schedule: construction crews, first responders, health care staff, hospitality and retail employees.

The gap is severe, the agency said. PCLSCA cited data showing only 14.8% of Pierce County residents think local childcare options are adequate. Less than 1% of the need for before- and after-hours care in the county is currently met, according to the agency. Annual childcare costs in Pierce County range from $16,000 to $21,000 per child, the PCLSCA site states.

Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Josh Garcia said the sale fits the district's broader goals. "We must work together across agencies and the community to support our students in and outside of school hours," Garcia said in the agency's press release.

State Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, who represents the 27th District, helped secure state funding for the project, according to the press release. The specific amount of state funding has not been disclosed.

Separately, Pierce County committed $300,000 in capital funds toward remodeling the building as part of its 2026-27 budget, according to a county government announcement.

In a letter ahead of a June 2 Pierce County Council vote on childcare zoning changes, the Pierce County Central Labor Council described the broader stakes. The council wrote that employers face workforce shortages as qualified workers decline job offers, cut hours or leave the workforce because they cannot find dependable childcare.

The Willard building, located near Interstate 5 on Tacoma's eastside, was built in 1952. It served as an elementary school before becoming an early learning center. Beyond childcare, the renovated facility will house workforce and apprenticeship education programs and shared space for unions and community partners.

No purchase price or opening timeline has been announced. PCLSCA said the lower floor of the building could expand childcare capacity over time.