Beresford council cites $9,999 grant to study local child-care capacity; consultant visit set for May

Mayor Sealy said the Beresford Area Foundation (also referred to as the Beresford Community Foundation) approved a $9,999 grant to the Beresford Child Care Task Force to study how the city can add child-care capacity.

The grant "is specifically being used to study how it is that we best position ourselves to add capacity to our community," Sealy said. The council also held a first reading of an ordinance to supplement the FY2025 budget to reflect receipt of the grant and the related expenses.

The task force will host consultant Jeff, described by council members as an experienced consultant who has worked in both large cities and small communities, in town on Friday the 23rd. Sealy said there will be public events including a lunch at Calvarose and sessions with current local child-care providers to discuss efficiency and future planning.

Council members said the work aims to strengthen early-childhood capacity "at the base" of the community services pyramid. The budget ordinance (Ordinance 2025-036) was introduced on first reading to allow city staff to record the grant and associated expenditures; no final vote on that ordinance occurred at the meeting.

The council approved the amended agenda and scheduled follow-up budget work as needed. Sealy said she will publish a press release in the near future with details about the consultant visits and public sessions.

The first reading of the budget-supplement ordinance means staff can begin preparing accounts to reflect the grant, but the full appropriation will require subsequent council action.