Speakers tell Belvidere council the city faces a major shortage of full‑time child‑care slots; longtime center warns it may close

Livia Bane, regional manager for Birth to Five Illinois, told the Belvidere City Council on June 2 that data show a substantial local shortfall in full‑time child‑care capacity for children under five. "Out of 1,888 children in Belvidere," Bane said, "you have 122 licensed family child care options and 354 licensed child care centers," leaving roughly 1,317 children with unknown or unmet full‑time care arrangements.

The data, Bane said, come from ICAM and FY23 census‑based figures maintained through Illinois State University. "There are no slots available for many working families," she said, and she offered to provide the council with additional breakdowns and resources.

Kelly McNeel, family and community engagement specialist for Birth to Five Illinois for Winnebago and Boone counties, added local context from family interviews and outreach: inconsistent care can derail parents' jobs or advancement, she said. "I heard about a mother who was promoted but lost ground because of unreliable child care," McNeel said. She described the program's approach of seeking out families at schools, health department events and community programs to surface needs and relay them to local agencies.

The council heard a more urgent account from Sue Wilson, executive director of Firstep Daycare Center, who said the center — licensed for up to 133 children — has been required by a new building owner to relinquish space and will lose two classrooms on July 1. Wilson said that change will eliminate about 20 pre‑K and 30 school‑age slots and cut summer revenues by more than $50,000 (about $30,000 during the school year). She said the owner refused to renew a long‑standing rental arrangement after buying the building and has declined to fund needed repairs, including a $7,000 boiler repair and more than $3,000 in pipe work; she also reported pest‑entry problems tied to building work.

"If the owner decides at any time that we're no longer allowed to use the spaces, we will need to close and the doors will have to be shut down within 90 days," Wilson said, asking the council and the community for help and fundraising support.

Alderman Peterson questioned how the child counts were derived; Bane said the numbers were drawn from ICAM and census sources. Alderman Albertini asked how Birth to Five reaches families; McNeel said staff proactively engage at community events, schools and the health department.

Why this matters: Council members and community groups are weighing capacity gaps against current and planned local childcare facilities. At the same meeting, the council approved a special‑use permit for a proposed daycare at 2170 Pearl Street and packet materials indicated the applicant had told planning staff the state (DCFS) was expecting a capacity of about 70 children; the state will set the final licensed capacity.

Background and next steps: The testimony combined quantitative estimates with on‑the‑ground accounts of a provider facing space loss. Council members offered to follow up with state contacts and asked to be kept apprised of any fundraising or assistance plans. The proposed daycare special use remains subject to state licensing requirements and any further local approvals necessary for operation.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the public comment portion and council Q&A and are listed with their roles to preserve attribution. The council took no formal action specifically to assist Firstep during the meeting; several aldermen said they would follow up with state contacts and staff to explore options.