Suffolk officials hear data on child-care shortfall; EDA offers small grant to launch family day homes

City Council on the evening of the meeting heard a regional presentation showing a persistent shortfall in licensed child-care capacity and learned of a local grant aimed at helping small operators open family day homes.

Dr. Jane Glasgow, executive director of the 9 to 5 early childhood initiative at Old Dominion University, told council that early brain development and workforce participation make child care an infrastructure issue. "Ninety percent of children's brain development happens in those first five years," Glasgow said, then outlined Reinvestment Fund data estimating Suffolk's child-care demand at about 6,119 children with licensed supply near 4,698, leaving a notable shortage in infant and toddler spaces.

The shortfall, Glasgow said, is aggravated by workforce shortages and a business model that places 80–85% of operating budgets in staffing costs. She also cited regional economic impacts, including national estimates of hundreds of billions in lost earnings and productivity tied to care shortages.

Following Glasgow's presentation, the Economic Development Authority described a local response. The EDA will offer a small family day home grant to cover conditional-use permit fees — up to $850 per applicant — and provide hands-on navigation through licensing and zoning requirements. The presenter noted the city previously supported a pilot that provided $5,000 per family day home to help five operators start; the EDA said the first new applicant under the current program is Tiny Homes LLC (Kathleen Lynch).

City staff said the grant is targeted at residents who live in Suffolk, require VDOE licensing, and will meet health and safety requirements verified by the Early Childhood Development Council. The EDA representative said the program includes technical assistance to shepherd applicants through the permitting and licensing processes.

Council members praised the presentation and the grant as a targeted, pragmatic step. Staff also pointed to a Jan. 23 public roundtable at the Center for Cultural Arts where Glasgow and the city's economic development director will discuss regional coordination and possible local incentives.

The council did not take formal legislative action on the presentation itself; council members encouraged continued work to reduce barriers such as permit costs, navigation assistance and possible tax incentives to support child-care businesses.