$550 million boost energizes conversation around how to support Minnesota day cares pinejournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pinejournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
St. Peter: 255
The pandemic caused more upheaval in an already unstable industry. Providers were suddenly hit with major income losses as families pulled their children out of child care (often due to parents who lost jobs or whose work situations changed as a result of the pandemic) and business costs increased as providers adhered to new public health guidelines. While state and federal grants have helped, many providers are hanging on by a thread and some have opted to close indefinitely.
As communities look to reopen and repair their struggling economies, addressing the child care crisis is vital. Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care. Likewise, our cities cannot attract new businesses and families unless we have a strong child care system.
Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care.
Written By:
Pat Baustian, Luverne Mayor and Heidi Omerza, Ely City Council | 10:50 pm, Feb. 19, 2021
After a harrowing year, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. COVID-19 cases are trending downward, vaccinations are up, businesses are re-opening and children are venturing back to school. But as Greater Minnesota communities look ahead to the post-pandemic future, a stubborn barrier to economic recovery remains: a dire lack of available child care.
This problem is not new. Even before COVID-19 came on the scene, Greater Minnesota was short 40,000 child care spots. In Rock County, we need nearly 200 more spaces to meet demand. Ely needs 140. According to a June 2020 report from First Children’s Finance (FCF), the shortage impacts communities of all sizes and in all corners of the state. Here’s an estimate of the additional child care spots needed in a sampling of Gre
• St. Peter: 255
The pandemic caused more upheaval in an already unstable industry. Providers were suddenly hit with major income losses as families pulled their children out of child care (often due to parents who lost jobs or whose work situations changed as a result of the pandemic) and business costs increased as providers adhered to new public health guidelines.
While state and federal grants have helped, many providers are hanging on by a thread and some have opted to close indefinitely.
As communities look to reopen and repair their struggling economies, addressing the child care crisis is vital. Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care. Likewise, our cities cannot attract new businesses and families unless we have a strong child care system.
As communities look to reopen and repair their struggling economies, addressing the child care crisis is vital. Workers cannot rejoin the workforce unless they have safe, reliable child care. Likewise, our cities cannot attract new businesses and families unless we have a strong child care system.