Investing in Bright Futures and Stronger Economies in Grant County

Grant County Development Corporation is launching a new countywide childcare initiative designed to expand licensed childcare capacity and ensure sustainability of providers across Grant County. The effort is supported by a $75,000 South Dakota Fund grant from South Dakota Community Foundation. 

“Access to quality, reliable childcare is not just a family issue — it is a workforce, business retention[MS1]  and community growth issue. This grant will help us strengthen local childcare capacity, support providers and better serve working families across Grant County,” said Traci Stein, GCDC Executive Director. “By investing in childcare, SDCF is helping us remove one of the most significant barriers to workforce participation and long-term economic vitality in our region.”

Limited availability of childcare for infants and toddlers is one of the biggest obstacles to workforce participation in Grant County. Through the Bright Futures Childcare program, GCDC will support local childcare providers in a multitude of ways, including facility safety upgrades, provider training and the creation of new licensed childcare slots across the county. In its first year, Bright Futures aims to support eight to 12 childcare providers and positively impact 75 to 100 working families. 

“We know that childcare is a challenge across South Dakota, and child well-being is one of SDCF’s focus initiatives this year,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF’s Senior Program Officer. “We’re pleased to support a project that has the potential to positively impact so many families as well as the infrastructure of local economies.” 

SDCF’s South Dakota Fund grants approximately $1 million each year to nonprofit organizations across the state.