Banks, agencies planning a child-care loan fund.

A group of banks, governments and nonprofit organizations wants to launch a fund that would provide low-interest loans to cash-strapped child-care centers, which could use the program to fix up their facilities.

The child-care fund is still in its formative stages, and even lacks a formal name, those involved in the discussions say. Nonetheless, if things work out, the fund could start loaning money to child-care centers in the spring or summer of next year.

Among the organizations behind the child-care fund are the city of Seattle and the state Office of Trade and Economic Development. At least two nonprofits are at the table: Child Care Resources of …