Entries by Region Nine

A complex problem

Two bills introduced in the Minnesota Legislature aim to increase child care access and space across the state. To Albert Lea Children’s Center Executive Director Sue Loch, however, the legislation does not address the need to pay child care teachers more, which she said is needed to increase child care access. One bill, authored by […]

Free business coaching for minority-owned businesses

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, in partnership with Region Nine Development Commission and Faribault Diversity Coalition, is recruiting minority-owned business leaders for a new cohort of its Prosperity Initiative. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 29 percent of Minnesota’s population in 2040 will be people of color, an increase from only 4 percent in 1980. In […]

Tackling the child care crisis at all levels

Last May U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar sat inside the conference room of the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce office building and listened to community stakeholders share child care issues during a roundtable discussion. Chamber President Brad Gruhot said child care used to be a cost issue, but he now told the senator “it’s also an […]

Can child care shortage be fixed?

Something rare happened at an event last week in Alexandria. Two DFL leaders and two Republican leaders all agreed on something — Minnesota’s child care shortage is a big problem that should be a priority in the next legislative session. The legislators talked about possible solutions at a panel discussion Thursday, Nov. 15, during the […]