Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota, and Rapid City, are creatively utilizing child care grants awarded by the state to address the shortage of available child care slots and the lack of affordable child care options for families. The grants, totaling over $3.7 million, are being used to implement innovative programs and initiatives in both cities [560d1e3e].
In Sioux Falls, Start Up Sioux Falls is partnering with other organizations to launch a small business accelerator program specifically for child care providers. This program aims to support and fund child care entrepreneurs by providing resources and mentorship. Additionally, the city plans to fund a child care entrepreneur-in-residence, further promoting the growth and development of child care services in the area [560d1e3e].
Rapid City, on the other hand, is taking a different approach to address the child care challenges. Elevate Rapid City, a local organization, will be hosting child care provider boot camps to provide training and support to existing child care providers. The city will also provide subgrants to help these providers expand their facilities and increase the number of available child care slots [560d1e3e].
Both Sioux Falls and Rapid City are committed to finding long-term policy solutions to the child care challenges faced by their communities. By utilizing the child care grants effectively and implementing innovative programs, these cities aim to improve access to affordable child care and support the needs of families [560d1e3e].
