Can a $60K grant from the Kellogg Foundation solve Branch County's childcare issues?

BRANCH COUNTY — Funded with a $60,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a local group is again trying to solve Branch County's lack of childcare.

According to Erica Heminger, executive director of the Branch County Community Foundation, the grant was awarded to assemble and coordinate a local implementation team.

Childcare Network data reports that 3,170 children five and under live in Branch County.

Including Great Start Readiness and Head Start, the county has only 1,114 licensed childcare openings.

Reports from Michigan Works! indicate that many women who want to join the workforce to fill local jobs cannot because of a lack of childcare.

Heminger said, "Child Care is typically considered a family issue. It's really important for us to break down that mindset barrier and talk about how it's an economic issue."

Heminger said, "The idea of confronting childcare access in rural communities is only possible because of this grant from Kellogg. So, we're so grateful that they see the value in the work that needs to be done.

The 2018 Community Childcare project

The grant program is similar to a 2018 collaborative community effort of over 20 supporting partners spearheaded by the Community Foundation and Branch County Great Start.

The group planned to turn the former Pines Behavioral Center on Orleans and Michigan Avenue into a 24-hour, seven-day Early Education Childcare Center.

The $1.8 million effort failed when the Michigan Department of Transportation refused to consider giving up some adjacent land necessary to meet building codes to convert the buildings.

Prior 2018 story : Community groups lay out plans for child care center

The goal

Both Kellogg and the Community Foundation view the ultimate goal as similar to the 2018 effort. "To develop actionable strategies, we can pursue not only strengthening our local childcare infrastructure, opening up more childcare spots, but also enhancing access to high-quality childcare services," Heminger explained.

The foundation will ask representatives of businesses, economic development, workforce development, municipalities, childcare businesses, early childcare system builders, policymakers, advocates, funders, and families to serve on the focus group.

While seeking the grant, Heminger said the foundation identified several primary challenges in Branch County.

Heminger states these include "the mindset barriers among community members unsure of their role in addressing the childcare crisis."

The foundation's executive director noted a general lack of community knowledge about the issue.

These all tie into insufficient funding and inadequate physical space for childcare facilities.

If successful, the grant will foster collaboration among the economic, workforce, and community development sectors to provide necessary childcare resources.

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Anyone interested in learning more about this work is urged to contact the Branch County Community Foundation in person at 2 W. Chicago St., suite E1, in downtown Coldwater, call the office at (517) 278-4517, or email staff at info@brcofoundation.org.

Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Can a $60K grant from the Kellogg Foundation solve Branch County's childcare issues?