Heron Lake Day Care Center opened in 1975 in the small town of Heron Lake in Jackson County. Kaye Fury started caring for kids at the center in 1980 and is currently the sole staff member. Earlier this year, Heron Lake-Okabena Community Foundation (HLOCF) awarded a grant to the center to pay for in-service training to comply with licensing requirements as well as supplies and activities for school age kids.
Connect Newsletter
The Ripple Effect of Quality, Affordable Child Care
Personal experience informs Ari Zaske’s commitment to finding quality child care solutions for everyone. When she and her husband, Mark, were expecting their second baby, their child care closed suddenly in 2022. The closure was “so emotional,” with families scrambling to find an alternative. Today, Ari’s family has found child care that’s a great fit for them. She’s also part of the Hutchinson Child Care Coalition, working to provide families options for quality, affordable child care in the community.
Southwest Minnesota Child Care Listening Sessions Summary Report
SWIF hosted a series of five listening sessions across southwest Minnesota to gather regional feedback on the draft standards. More than 150 child care providers, directors, economic development professionals, employers, parents and community leaders attended these sessions to voice their concerns and recommendations. Cheryl Glaeser of Achieve TFC, LLC. facilitated the sessions and developed a summary report in partnership with SWIF to highlight the key challenges noted in the listening sessions and a summary of recommended changes to the standards.
A new era of career exploration
Today’s approach to career and technical education in southwest Minnesota is an evolving network of partners all leaning in to strengthen students’ ties to the region and open their eyes to the possibilities around them. Southwest Initiative Foundation and all its funds have invested more than $1 million in career pathways work since 2017, from sponsoring major career expos drawing hundreds of students to the purchase of welding safety equipment and funding hands-on FFA experiences.
Local community foundations are partners in career prep
When it comes to career and technical education (CTE), local community foundations can be a great resource to support projects and ideas in schools. Many of Southwest Initiative Foundation’s 31 community foundation partners make grants to schools for projects related to career exploration. Earlier this school year, the Montevideo Area Community Foundation (MACF) granted half the cost to replace the safety helmets in the welding shop at Montevideo High School.
On the right path
The newest issue of our CONNECT newsletter is all about career pathways. Our feature story has highlights from the vast network of partnerships around our region that are supporting our students in finding meaningful work and our employers in filling their workforce needs so that our economy and communities can thrive. Choosing what to include was difficult because there is so much happening in career and technical education right now.
