High-quality early care and education
Our kids deserve the best possible start to a healthy life of learning, achieving and succeeding.
Experts agree that investing in early childhood is the best investment we can make for our future. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has found up to a $16 return for every dollar invested in high-quality early learning. We see benefits in lower crime and healthcare costs and higher school achievement and career earnings.
Access to quality, affordable child care is a critical economic development issue in southwest Minnesota. Over the last several years, we’ve worked with partners to create or retain nearly 1,000 child care slots in the region, benefiting kids, families and local economies.
Southwest Initiative Foundation has leveraged more than $1 million to help communities find solutions to the child care crisis.
We’ve helped with planning and investing in local projects, providing professional development for providers close to home and ensuring leaders and communities have access to information and understand current child care issues.
Explore community solutions to child care
With the vision of the Buffalo Lake Economic Development Authority (EDA), a creative partnership with Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (BLHS) School, and community support and funding, Little Stangs Learning Center went from an idea to opening its doors in less than two years.
We awarded the project $20,000 through a grant from the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to increase child care capacity for children and families in the area.
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