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Story County officials hear study, say workforce—not buildings—limits child-care capacity
Summary
The Story County Board of Supervisors heard a feasibility study and local provider reports showing workforce shortages, high infant/toddler costs and long wait lists; the county signaled interest in employer partnerships and a work session to explore targeted funding and programs.
Amy Vandenberg, director of the Whistle Stop Academy in Huxley, told the Story County Board of Supervisors on June 30 that the center used ARPA grant funds to raise staff wages and substantially reduce turnover. Vandenberg said the center has 37 staff, with only eight employed less than a year and multiple staff with five and 10+ years of service, allowing the center to keep tuition rates steady while retaining employees.
Shannon Tie of the Ames Alliance presented a countywide child‑care feasibility study conducted with Pendulum Dependent Care Solutions and United Way of Story County. Tie summarized findings from a November 2025–March 2026 study including 478 parent/caregiver surveys, 60 provider surveys and 78 Iowa State University faculty, staff and student responses—about 1,200 respondents total. The study concluded that workforce, not the number of licensed rooms, is the primary constraint on expanding child-care capacity in Story County.
The report highlighted several measurable gaps: infant and toddler care is the largest shortage (29% of providers report infant wait lists exceeding 12 months), many licensed rooms sit empty because providers cannot recruit or retain qualified educators, and middle‑income families face affordability pressures. The study estimated average infant/toddler care at about $297 per week (roughly $1,200 per month) and noted that 44% of families waited six to 12 months for care and 43% reported child-care challenges affecting their ability to work.
Board members and presenters emphasized workforce stabilization and employer partnerships as faster, lower‑cost ways to expand capacity than building new facilities. Supervisors asked for more granular provider‑level data (for example, specific locations and ageband shortages and any commuter patterns) and several supervisors requested a county work session to dig into the appendices and discuss targeted funding options before proposing expenditures.
No formal funding decision was made at the meeting; staff said they will coordinate follow‑up briefings with United Way, the Pendulum consultants, and other stakeholders to develop actionable next steps. The board did not vote on any policy changes or appropriations tied directly to the study during this session.
