The new Brainerd Family YMCA childcare center is slated to open as soon as permit approvals come from the state. Located in a repurposed building, the center will provide licensed care for children, peace of mind for working parents, and will create employment opportunities for teachers, aides and specialists.

A 2021 survey of the Brainerd area showed the need for more than 800 childcare slots for working families. This new center is the first step in a long-term vision to invest in children, family and adults in the community.

This expansion is supported by the Initiative Foundation, as well as many other organizations across the region.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar recently visited the Brainerd Family YMCA's childcare facility on Jan. 12 while in the area. Klobuchar helped secure $600,000 through the 2023 fiscal year budget to assist the project.

Read more about her visit in the Brainerd Dispatch.

Request for Proposal: Region 7E Childcare Consultant

The Initiative Foundation is seeking a childcare capacity-building consultant to serve Region 7E counties of Pine, Isanti, Chisago, Kanabec and Mille Lacs. The consultant would attend meetings and use the information gathered to develop solutions and provide resources to help communities advance local childcare initiatives.

Requests for proposals (RFPs) will be accepted until Jan. 25, 2024.

Found in IQ Magazine: Manifesting a Museum

As he was nearing retirement, Glen Palm pondered the needs of Central Minnesota and thought he might have enough time for what he wanted to do all along: create a local place where kids from birth through their pre-teen years could play in a positive environment.

Read about Great River Children's Museum, opening in 2024, and the 10-year journey that Palm and his partners have been on to create Minnesota's second-largest children's museum in downtown St. Cloud.

DEED Hires Wickstrom to Focus on Childcare, Community Partnership Efforts

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has hired the newest addition to its child care team. As DEED's new director of childcare and community partnerships, Tammy Wickstrom, a former Initiative Foundation and Mille Lacs Band employee, will offer her valuable experience as an early childhood professional and rural resident.

We look forward to seeing the impact Tammy helps make in our communities!

New Position: Small Business Coordinator

Help us spread the word: The Initiative Foundation is hiring a small business coordinator to provide coaching and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. The right candidate brings a a deep understanding of the pathways, models and programs that effectively support entrepreneurs and their ideas. Enjoy an excellent compensation and benefits package as you help to fulfill our mission to empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities, and a lasting culture of generosity.

This is a full-time, limited-duration position with grant-funded support through 2025.

Jessica Gilder

Childcare Solutions Programs Officer

jgilder@ifound.org

(320) 631-2023