Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to support economic development by improving the availability and quality of child care in Minnesota's rural areas through funding and planning initiatives.

Main Provisions

• Funding Allocation: The bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund and $2.5 million from the workforce development fund for both fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Minnesota Initiative Foundations. The funding is meant to support child care planning and programming and will be available until June 30, 2031, with continued funding of $1 million annually from the general fund starting in 2028.

• Planning and Community Action: The allocations will be used to help rural communities create community solution action plans. These plans aim to sustain and increase the supply of quality child care and integrate child care into regional economic development plans.

• Private Sector Engagement: The bill encourages private sector involvement by investing local resources to support action plans and ensure child care's inclusion in economic development strategies.

• Training and Assistance: The Minnesota Initiative Foundations will provide local training and technical help to rural child care business owners to enhance their business skills. This includes preparing them for operating quality child care services, obtaining additional funding, and stabilizing their businesses.

• Quality Improvement Programs: Recruitment and support for child care programs to participate in quality rating and improvement programs will be emphasized. Local partners will be involved in offering affordable training and coaching to help achieve these goals.

Significant Changes

This bill establishes ongoing funding and strategic planning efforts tailored to enhance child care services in rural Minnesota, creating a consistent framework for child care development as part of the broader economic development goals.

Relevant Terms

• Economic development
• Child care planning
• Rural communities
• Community solution action plan
• Private sector investment
• Training and technical assistance
• Quality rating and improvement programs