County approves DEED childcare-grant amendment to shift sites and add 118 slots

Leslie Sauter, Pine County economic development coordinator, briefed commissioners on a multi-year effort to expand childcare capacity using a DEED grant and related local match. Sauter said the county and partners (including Pine Technical & Community College and HRA/EDA) initially requested $600,000 from DEED but received $500,000 in July 2024. After bids and partner decisions, staff proposed an amendment that shifts project addresses and reallocates slot counts to keep the project viable: "we went from having 88 slots to a 118," Sauter said.

Sauter walked commissioners through site-by-site changes: the Quarry/Weber Avenue childcare programming was removed when costs exceeded the federal EDA award; the Finlayson Elementary proposal lost school-board support, and funds were redirected to a Willow River site and a new Hinkley location. The HRA/EDA approved purchasing a building to host the Hinkley site and Sauter described the county's approach to use grant dollars for equipment and contractual services (not staffing) given the grant's June expiration.

Commissioners discussed ownership, the possibility of a school-district-operated center, and contingency plans if bid results exceed estimates. Staff said amendment processes with DEED take several weeks and another amendment could be pursued if a school district or alternate site becomes viable before grant funds expire. The board moved, seconded and approved the amendment by voice vote; commissioners directed staff to continue work on bids and possible additional amendments as needed.