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Pine County authorizes application for child-care retention grants to keep 88 slots open
Summary
The county board approved submitting a DEED child-care economic development grant application seeking $144,375 to support two providers and county administration; officials said the funding would retain about 13 jobs and 88 child-care slots but would not create new slots.
The Pine County Board of Commissioners on March 17 authorized county staff to execute documents to apply for a Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) Child Care Economic Development grant intended to support local provider retention and training.
Economic Development Coordinator Lezlie Sauter told the board that Early Years Academy requested $100,000, Quarry Kids Child Care requested $31,250 and Pine County requested $13,125 to administer the grant, for a total request of $144,375. Sauter said Early Years Academy can provide the $55,000 match required by the grant and Quarry Kids is exempt from the match. The application, as presented, would not create new child-care slots; county staff expect the funding to retain approximately 13 jobs and 88 existing slots.
The board approved the authorization on a 5-0 roll call after a motion by Commissioner JJ Waldhalm and a second from Commissioner Steve Hallan. No additional county match or ongoing county funding was committed at the meeting.
What to watch: If the grant is awarded, the county will administer the funds and monitor outcomes tied to retention and training. The board did not discuss substantial program expansion or new-slot creation at this meeting.
Next steps: County Chair and County Administrator are authorized to sign application documents and submit the grant to DEED.
