Empowering Child Care Providers and Enriching Families
Your partner in supporting quality child care for strong communities and rich economies
Child care is a cornerstone of economic development, which is vital in fostering thriving communities and robust economies. It goes beyond being a service for families. It is a fundamental driver of workforce participation, business productivity, and overall community well-being.
Child Care Initiatives are Supported in a Variety of Forms
The Child Care Community Coordinator, a position in partnership with United Community Action Partnership (UCAP), works to support existing and future child care providers, both in-home and centers, while continuing to access additional funds for support.
This position exists to help you, someone who wishes to start a day care or child care business, or those who are currently in the business succeed. This staff member works closely with the Child Care Wayfinder program which guides you through the process of becoming licensed from start to finish. This position, along with the Business Development Manager, overs sees the Kandiyohi County Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) which is under First Children's Finance.
The Kandiyohi County RCCIP created a Community Solution Action Plan for Child Care in March of 2019 that can be reviewed on our website. This will be updated with new goals in 2024.
Interested in becoming involved with RCCIP? Have a location idea for a new child care? The Coordinator can help guide you through the process. They can review possible locations with you, answer your questions, and support you through the process. Connect today with the Child Care Community Coordinator at online or at 320-894-9085.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free, confidential, 24 hour, 7 days a week access to mental health professionals who can assist child care providers. Call 1-800-577-4727 if you need help today.
This program matches those who are new or planning on entering child care with those who are established providers. The mentors will receive a stipend for participation and will work with the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) team to establish the length and detailed specifics of the mentorship program.
If you are interested in being a mentor or receiving mentorship please call KCED at (320) 235-7370.
Develop MN
Develop MN is an online resource for child care providers and early care educators. Individuals and organizations can discover training and professional development to add to a provider’s toolbox and meet licensing requirements. To learn more and access these tools visitdeveloptoolmn.org
2024: Child Care Economic Development Grant Round 2
Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded Kandiyohi County $500,000 that will be split between two projects, a nature pre-school at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center and four specialized child care units in Atwater. Kandiyohi County is providing another $70,000 for these projects.
2022: Child Care Economic Development Grant Round 1
DEED provided a $200,000 grant to the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission in 2022 to help address a child care shortage of 935 slots in the area. Kandiyohi County pitched in $150,000, the city of Willmar contributed $100,000, Southwest Initiative Foundation provided $100,000, First Children's Finance another $30,000 and other municipalities throughout the county also joined the effort, resulting in approximately $600,000, plus providers/centers themselves are investing an additional $500,000 to support the maintenance and expansion of child care availability in the area. Local child care providers received assistance through forgivable loans and fee reimbursements, a technology enhancement program, a mentorship program, an employee assistance program, transportation support and training and language accommodation.
On-going Work in Child Care at KCED
Child Care creation and retention is an important pillar of the work KCED supports. The Kandiyohi County Child Care Project has three key goals:
- Increase child care slots throughout Kandiyohi County.
- Provide support and resources for new and existing providers to decrease the number of providers exiting the field.
- Create opportunities for all Kandiyohi County providers to grow their child care services.
Free Well Water Testing Kits
Currently, child care providers can receive free well water testing kits from the county licensor. In addition, part of the 2022 Child Care Economic Development Grant was the coverage of your fire extinguisher tests. Contact American Welding & Gas today for your test.
Get Involved
First Children’s Finance (FCF) has several different local community-organized groups working in child care that you can join. These include the Rural Child Care Innovation Program and the Strategic Supply Plan.
Rural Child Care Innovation Program
The Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) is a community engagement process designed to develop solutions to address the need of care and education in Minnesota's rural communities. The goal of the RCCIP is to help communities identify the scope and size of their child care challenges while This group consists of KCED and UCAP staff, local professionals working in the child care economy, and both in-home and center child care providers among many other professionals. The RCCIP uses a community engagement process designed to develop right-sized solutions to increase the supply of high-quality affordable child care in rural communities.
Strategic Supply Plan
The Strategic Supply Plan (SSP) condensed version of RCCIP, usually lasting around nine months and does not include public engagement events. SSP consists of a series of meetings with a core team made up of people representing various sectors of the community. FCF leads core team meetings and facilitates the development of an action plan to increase the supply of child care and outlines steps to begin implementing that plan. In late June and early July of 2024 this plan is just getting organized in Kandiyohi County. Now is a great time to join and bring your voice to the table! If you are interested in participating in the groups below contact us today.
Foster relationships with those working in the child care economy, including UCAP, individual providers and child care business owners, Kandiyohi County Human Services, including the county licensor, and employers who may support creating child care spaces for their employees. Contact us today if you need assistance connecting with other provider business owners, your licensor or other professionals who work in the child care economy.
Starting a child care business?
If you are thinking about starting a child care business or are a business who understands the value in creating child care for your employees and want to learn more contact us today.
Your one-stop navigation network, Wayfinder, is for starting and growing child care programs in Minnesota. We offer personalized support and resources to help you succeed. We offer assistance in starting a child care business, growing your child care, and sustaining your child care.
Are you a Provider who needs resources?
First Children’s Finance will have grant and loan opportunities as well as business planning support.
The KCED has paid for fire extinguisher checks and well water testing for providers, both existing and new, until 2026 or until supplies and funds last. Pick up your pre-paid well test from the Kandiyohi County licensor (link to contact information) or call American Welding and Gas to set up your extinguisher check and tell them you are provider.
Want to learn more the need for child care?
The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) published a Central Minnesota Child Care Overview that reviews demographics, cost and availability, family arrangements, employment and workforce characteristics for Benton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Pine, Renville, Sherburn, Stearns and Wright Counties.
First Children's Finance reported to the MN House Children and Families Finance & Policy Committee in November 2023 that the median-income family in Minnesota with an infant and 4-year old would pay 37% of their income in child care. Read the full report by clicking on the link to "The Cost of Child Care of Minnesota."
Reviewing the Minnesota Department of Human Services' latest child care costs from April 2024, as published by the Child Care Aware website, reflect differences throughout the metro, greater MN, and statewide costs.
Need Child Care?
Child care can be a challenge to find. Some resources can help!
Child Care Aware is a program that helps families access high-quality and affordable child care.
Parent Aware is a program that provides tool for families to provide care and for providers to find resources.
Review the list of Kandiyohi County Human Services Licensed Providers and centers.
There is also a private Facebook Group called Openings for Willmar Area Providers.
KCED hosts this partnership position with United Community Action Partnership (UCAP). This staff serves future and present child care providers and child care centers in Kandiyohi County. They will walk through the process of becoming licensed from start to finish.
Have an innovative child care creation or retention idea?
We want to know more about it! Tell us today.
Ready to unlock your full potential in Kandiyohi County?
Contact us now and let Kandiyohi County Economic Development be your gateway to success.