Child care
RFP for early childhood facilities now open through DCYF
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), through its Child Care Services Division, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to predesign, design, construct or renovate facilities for early childhood learning programs under the Early Childhood Facilities Grant Program.…
Read MoreDEED to host webinar on child care infrastructure
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching As part of Business of Child Care’s ongoing virtual series highlighting opportunities of the moment, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will be hosting a focused conversation on child care as economic development infrastructure. The session will be…
Read MoreMinneapolis Federal Reserve Bank announces Child Care Capacity report
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching Late last month, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis released its Child Care Capacity Report detailing the results of its child care tracking initiative. The report compares Minnesota child care capacity trends with those of other states in the…
Read MoreFirst Children’s Finance – Annual child care supply/demand gap analysis released
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching First Children’s Finance (FCF) recently released its annual Child Care Need Summary. A key takeaway from this year’s report is that the Greater Minnesota child care shortage remains dire, with the region being short of 42,581 child care slots as of June 2025. It is not the worst…
Read MoreFunding available through Rural Child Care Innovation Program
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching First Children’s Finance (FCF), in partnership with the MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), is now accepting applications for funding from the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP). The RCCIP program is an innovative community engagement process designed to…
Read MoreChild Care Economic Development Grants Announced
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching Congratulations to members and your partners who were awarded this second round of Child Care Economic Development Grants funding to support the startup or expansion of child care slots! I hope you saw that 84% of the funds will…
Read MoreGMNP announces 2025 policy priorities
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching The GMNP 2025 legislative platform renews the Partnership’s focus on ensuring Greater Minnesota communities and businesses have the resources they need to thrive. In 2025, the GMNP will work to secure funding for critical housing, workforce development, child care,…
Read MoreApplication open for Rural Child Care Innovation Program
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching Through generous funding from the MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families, First Children’s Finance is pleased to offer the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP), an innovative community engagement process designed to address the challenges of child care…
Read MoreApplications now open for DEED child care grants
As the 2026 legislative session comes to a close, key bills the GMNP is still watching The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Child Care Community Partnerships Office, is seeking proposals from qualified responders to receive grants to be used to implement solutions to reduce the childcare shortage in the state including…
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