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Pine County authorizes quick application for state childcare retention grant
Summary
Economic development coordinator Leslie Sauter asked the board to authorize a last-minute application to DEED to help local centers retain staff; commissioners approved authorization after learning the two centers could retain an estimated 159–177 slots and 13 staff if funded.
Pine County authorized the county administrator and board chair to execute documents to apply for and accept a state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) childcare retention grant after a late request from county economic development staff.
Leslie Sauter, Pine County’s economic development coordinator, told the board she put a rapid application together at a center's request and said the county previously used similar grant funds in 2024 to expand capacity. "If we could help sustain, retain, and keep these centers open since we worked so hard to get them open, I think that would be beneficial," Sauter said in presenting the request.
Sauter explained prior county work that expanded childcare capacity (about $1,000,000 to add roughly 108 slots) and cited a 2021 county childcare study that identified a 300–350 slot deficit. She said two centers had specific requests: Pine City Early Learning Academy asked for about $100,000 and offered a 50% match; Quarry Kids requested roughly $31,250 and may be exempt from matching due to serving a high-poverty area. She said if both requests were funded, the two centers could retain between 159 and 177 slots and about 13 staff.
Board members asked how many slots the grant would cover and whether schools and other partners were ready. Sauter said one partner (a school retrofit) was progressing well and that she had letters of support from major employers and community partners.
Following brief discussion, a motion to authorize application submission and acceptance of funding if awarded passed by roll call. The authorization permits the county administrator or board chair to finalize and sign required paperwork before the DEED deadline.
Next steps: staff will finalize the application materials and submit them by the stated deadline; if funds are awarded, the county will confirm match requirements and report back to the board on award terms and intended use.
