C-RECC NW

The Center for Retention & Expansion of Child Care NW

THE CENTER FOR RETENTION & EXPANSION OF CHILD CARE NW (C-RECC NW) was created in 2020 through a partnership between Opportunity Council (OC) and the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Supportive local funding partners include various foundations: Mt. Baker Foundation, Chuckanut Health Foundation, United Way, Whatcom Community Foundation; WA State Dept. of Commerce; Whatcom County; City of Bellingham; Northsound Accountable Communities of Health; corporate donors; and federal dollars, especially connected to the Covid-19 pandemic.

C-RECC NW focuses on stabilizing, retaining, and expanding the capacity and the number of child care businesses across the five counties in our region: Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish.

C-RECC NW has three full-time staff: Michelle Arinaga, C-RECC Coordinator; Megan Asheghi, Child Care Business Consultant; and Sandra Lopez Rodriguez, Child Care Business Consultant. The team supports current and potential child care providers with multiple aspects of the business, and helps find solutions tailored to their needs. They work alongside Opportunity Council’s Quality Child Care Division Early Learning Coaches who also work directly with licensed child care providers.

For more information or to get in contact with C-RECC NW, email info@creccnw.org or visit the website www.creccnw.org.

Our C-RECC NW Team

Michelle Arinaga

C-RECC NW Coordinator

Michelle has worked as the C-RECC Coordinator since 2025. She also serves as Child Care Aware’s Early Learning Coach Lead for Whatcom County and its’ surrounding areas. Since 2011, Michelle has worn many different hats in the early learning field. She started out as support staff at a child care program and worked her way up to taking on the role of center director. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Western Washington University and more recently earned a grant writing certification. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her daughter.

Megan Asheghi

Child Care Business Consultant, C-RECC NW

MEGAN PRICE joined the Opportunity Council in March of 2023. Prior to that she enjoyed a long career in preschool and childcare teaching/administration- working in a variety of preschool and childcare programs for 23 years. The combination of over two decades in the field and her study of Early Childhood Education at Bellevue College has shaped her into an advocate for all things child, family, and teacher related. Megan grew up in Skagit County, and after a decade of living in the Seattle Metro area is THRILLED to back in the north-end and a part of the Bellingham community!

Sandra Lopez Rodriguez

Child Care Business Consultant, C-RECC NW

Sandra Lopez Rodriguez joined the Opportunity Council in June 2023. Prior she worked in case management and adult education in a non-profit and community college setting.

Sandra is a life-long resident of Skagit County and is excited to continue work in her community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Western Washington University.