ABERDEEN, S.D.(Press Release)- The Aberdeen Development Corporation (ADC) has been announced as a recipient of the SouthvDakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development Community Based Childcare Planning Grant.  The ADC has applied for these funds to assist the Aberdeen, South Dakota, community in developing innovative strategies that address childcare needs in the community.

In July 2023, a comprehensive market study funded by ADC highlighted the critical shortage of childcare infrastructure within a 15-minute radius of Aberdeen. Existing licensed/registered home daycares, childcare centers, and after-school programs fall short of meeting the needs of children under four and those aged nine and under. Aberdeen faces a pressing need to expand its capacity, with a measured gap of 1,784 enrollment spots compared to 3,862 children in the target area.

Childcare providers in Aberdeen encounter barriers and challenges that hinder their ability to meet current demands. The major hurdles to overcome are a shortage of qualified childcare workers, difficulty retaining workers, balancing operational costs with tuition rates, and accessing necessary expertise and financing for facility expansion.

The planning grant focuses on addressing, creating, and exploring solutions in four key areas:

I. Workforce Development Strategy for Careers in Childcare

II. Funding and Budgeting Sustainability for Childcare Providers

III. Facility Opportunity Exploration

IV. Collaboration and Innovation Across Sectors

The ADC is committed to effectively leveraging these funds to enhance quality childcare infrastructure by collaborating with childcare stakeholders, which include childcare providers, community leaders, education, business, and nonprofit partners. An initial planning meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 27th, from 4:00-5:30 PM. We ask that anyone interested in attending contact Taylor Hanson at the Aberdeen Development Corporation at (605)229-5335 or by email at taylorhanson@adcsd.com to be added to the invite list.