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Commissioners consider quick push for rural childcare grant as two local providers say they will close
Summary
With two local childcare providers planning to stop operations, commissioners discussed a World Champions grant (application due Feb. 20) offering a stipend and implementation funds; they agreed to rapidly explore coalition partners, potential operators and use of county property.
Commissioners discussed a time-sensitive grant opportunity (World Champions program) that offers a $20,800 stipend and up to $25,000 for implementation to support rural childcare, entrepreneurship and public-art projects. With two childcare providers in Minneapolis planning to close in May, commissioners agreed the county should move quickly to assess whether a coalition (schools, city, county, nonprofits) could assemble an application by the Feb. 20 deadline.
Staff and commissioners discussed possible uses of county-owned buildings (the so-called Blue Store and adjacent Henry Building) as potential childcare or coalition sites, and whether the county should sell or transfer property to a school or nonprofit to support operations. Commissioners noted the stipend could be used to hire a coordinator to develop a business plan and coalition during a planning year; the implementation funds would be for one-time startup costs if the project advances.
Why it matters: losing childcare slots can affect workforce capacity, parent employment and the local economy; commissioners said a grant-funded planning effort could identify sustainable options but stressed the need to find an operator or lead organization.
"If we don't take a shot in the dark, we'll never receive it," one commissioner said, urging the board to apply and then seek a partner to run an operational plan if the stipend is awarded.
