Editor’s note: This is the 10th 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.
About 60 more licensed childcare spots will be available in Seward by the start of 2024, helping to close the childcare gap.
Seward County currently lacks about 189 licensed care spots and can’t keep up with the number of children ages 0-5 who need care.
Little Cubs Daycare is one of three childcare centers becoming part of the solution, with the other two located in Staplehurst and Milford.
Carlee Carter, owner of Little Cubs Daycare in York, said a friend told her of Seward County’s need for additional childcare. She decided to expand her two York locations with a third center in Seward.
“I had no idea what to expect for Seward,” Carter said.
She called the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership to learn more.
“They jumped right in and said, ‘Yep, this is a need,’” she said, and within a week, they helped her find a suitable building and begin planning for the new center.
Little Cubs will be located at 1313 285th Road in Seward, inside a building owned by the SCCDP. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services currently occupies one side of the building, and Little Cubs will operate on the other side.
It will be licensed to serve between 60 and 70 children ages 6 weeks to school age.
Carter has six years of experience in both in-home and childcare center settings. After she graduated college with a degree in early childhood education, she returned to York and opened an in-home childcare business.
Then, she purchased an existing center and turned it into her own. Last year, she opened a second location that currently serves infants only. She is in the process of expanding that second location to include infants through school-age-children.
Once that transition is complete, the two York locations will serve about 100 children total.
Carter has hired Samantha Ellis as director for the Seward Little Cubs location.
Ellis is a Concordia University graduate with an early childhood education degree.
“She loved Seward when she lived there for college. She worked for me in York for a couple years during college part-time, then graduated and did in-home in York for a year,” Carter said.
Little Cubs in York provides transportation to and from preschool for its children as well as those who attend in-home centers in the community. It works with the school district to transport school-age children.
Carter said she is exploring how those options might work in Seward as well.
The center will have an educational curriculum for all classrooms from birth to preschool age, and breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack are provided.
Little Cubs will accept the Nebraska Childcare Subsidy for families.
Currently, the space is being renovated to accommodate the number of classrooms needed. Carter is adding dropped ceilings, a kitchen, bathrooms and two outdoor play spaces.
“We try to divide it into two areas so when younger kids are outside, the older kids can go out in a different area,” she said.
Carter received about 80% of the funding for the Seward location through two grants totaling just over $576,000.
About $200,000 came as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act.
“That was a very, very competitive grant,” Carter said.
The rest was from the Business Childcare Partnership Grant through the Department of Health and Human Services, which was open to providers across the whole state.
The two grants will cover the cost of building renovations and most classroom supplies, but the money must be used by the end of August.
The other 20% is an investment by Carter to purchase additional equipment, like a 15-passenger van.
One of the grants requires the center to be completed by Dec. 31.
“That means licensed and ready to take kids,” Carter said.
She plans to open right after the New Year’s holiday in January.
“Unless we happen to get done with construction way sooner, then I’m happy to open in October if we’re ready,” she said. “I’m excited to come to town and see what Seward’s all about. Everyone so far has been really welcoming.”
Those interested in employment at Little Cubs or parents interested in care for their children may call or text (402) 646-1551 or email littlecubs.seward@gmail.com.
