Greater Minnesota is facing a child care crisis.
Between 2002 and 2022, Minnesota lost 47% of its family child care capacity and Greater Minnesota lost more than 20,000 child care slots. More than 40,000 additional child care slots are needed in Greater Minnesota.
The Greater Minnesota Partnership supports investments that will stabilize the child care marketplace, expand access to child care for workers and families, keep providers in the industry, and support new providers.
2024 GMNP Child Care Policy Priorities
Support investments and regulatory reforms that allow providers to operate financially sustainable businesses while maintaining a safe, nurturing environment for young learners.
Creation of a new child care license structure that operates between a family care license and a child care center license, aimed at supporting child care facilities that can serve between 30 and 80 children.
$20 million for the Greater Minnesota Child Care Facilities Grant program in bonding or cash funds.
In the 2023 legislative session, we helped expand child care access in Greater Minnesota by securing:
$13 million for Economic Development Child Care Grants.
These grants, awarded by the Department of Employment and Economic Development, support a wide variety of projects that work to reduce the child care shortage in our communities. At least half of these funds will support projects in Greater Minnesota.
$7 million for the six Initiative Foundations to support their child care efforts.
The six Foundations serve all 80 counties in Greater Minnesota, and support their individual regions in building economic prosperity by providing grants, business loans, and programming.
An increase to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) reimbursement rate from 35% to 75%.
An initiative of Governor Walz, this new office will serve as a conduit between community leaders - local governments, businesses, and nonprofits - who are looking to support the expansion of their local childcare capacity.
The creation of the state Office of Child Care Community Partnerships.
Providers will now be reimbursed more than double the previous rate for CCAP-eligible families. This increase will have a significant impact on the ability of child care providers to build sustainable and financially stable businesses.