Editor’s note: This is the ninth article in a multi-part series unpacking the effects of the shortage of quality, affordable childcare in Seward County on families, the local economy, employers, care providers, educators and children.
An influx of nearly $2 million in grant funds may soon help shift Seward County from its status as a childcare desert to a childcare oasis.
The funds are earmarked to help create at least 176 new licensed childcare spots, putting a large dent in the 189-spot gap Seward County has between the number of children needing care and the number of spots available.
Of the new spots, 22 have already been established, while the rest will come with three new childcare centers set to open around the end of 2023.
“We identified the need, then things came together very quickly. All those resources aligned in a really great way,” said Jonathan Jank, president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership.
Grants for capacity
The SCCDP received a $30,000 grant from the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation’s Communities For Kids initiative. That grant, which will be paid out over the next three years, is being used to pay for bi-monthly gatherings of childcare providers. The meetings include a meal, networking opportunities and trainings for providers to elevate their skills.
Because of its involvement in Communities For Kids, the SCCDP was selected as one of 12 Nebraska organizations to receive additional money through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.
The CRRSA funds must be used to build childcare capacity – or create additional spots for children in licensed facilities.
The CRRSA funds were distributed over two years. SCCDP received $78,500 in 2022 and will receive $73,700 for 2023.
“We have disseminated all of the $78,500 to providers, and we’re getting ready for that next round of funds,” Jank said.
The first round was distributed to seven in-home providers and childcare centers.
Jacob Jennings, director of community affairs for the SCCDP, said a short application was circulated to local childcare providers. They explained how they would use the grant money.
“We had a team of childcare professionals, Educational Service Unit 6 representatives and the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation who reviewed the applications to decide how much is appropriate based on how much they’re increasing capacity,” Jennings said.
Jank said everybody who applied with eligible expenses received some funds, though they all received different amounts.
Jennings said while some in-home providers were among the grant recipients, it was more difficult for them to qualify because of the capacity-building requirement of the grant.
Providers must have a certain number of square feet available per child, and in-home providers are limited to the amount of space in their homes, unless they are willing or able to add on.
“It’s really hard for in-home providers to take advantage of that,” Jennings said. “We’re hoping to see some of these grants turn into quality improvement,” instead of capacity-building.
In total, those seven recipients increased the county’s childcare capacity by 12 infant spots and 10 school age spots, plus a few overnight care spots for children of second- and third-shift workers.
The money was spent in a variety of ways, from outfitting new classrooms with cribs to advertising open staff positions to paying salaries for additional teachers – all of which translate into additional childcare capacity.
The second round of CRRSA funds will be ready to distribute within the next 60 days, and those dollars will have to be spent by April 2024.
“This is all on pretty quick timelines,” Jank said.
New centers
on the horizon
An additional $200,000 in grant money came from the American Rescue Plan Act, and another $1.6 million from a Business and Childcare Partnership Grant through the State of Nebraska.
The ARPA funds were awarded to Carlee Carter, a York resident who is planning to expand her existing Little Cubs Daycare business by adding a Seward location to her two York locations.
The BCPG money went to Carter ($376,714), Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Staplehurst for the Our Redeemer Little Learners childcare center opening in its former school building this fall ($576,941) and to Kathi and Kylie Schildt of Milford, who plan to open the Milford Childhood Learning Center later this year ($646,926).
BCPG funds had to be spent by the end of July unless an extension was granted. The added spots have to be available to children by the end of the year. The ARPA dollars must be used by the end of December.
Jank said the three new childcare centers came about from people in the community who wanted to address the need for quality care.
“We have three new childcare centers coming to our county, which I think is exactly what the state was looking for when they were disseminating these dollars,” Jank said. “We’re fortunate in our county that we have three that we did not solicit, but they have become available. In our role on the economic development side, we welcome new business opportunities.
“We will continue to support our existing providers, and we also want to welcome new opportunities for business growth.”
Jank said he hopes the new centers will be large enough to accommodate several children on a drop-in basis, which would allow in-home providers to take time away for medical appointments, trainings or vacation, and it could support other care centers when needed.
“We’re hoping building capacity benefits everyone,” he said. “Our gap number was approximately 189. Through these three projects, we’re really hoping that these childcare centers can help fill the need.”
