Wabasha Port Authority Childcare Grant Program was successful

Four New In-Home Provider Businesses, 40 New Childcare Slots Created 

Wabasha, MN, April 2023 — The Wabasha Port Authority recently concluded a successful childcare grant program that led to four new in-home providers and 40 new childcare slots. In July of 2022 First Children’s Finance (FCF), a non-profit child care organization based in the Twin Cities, awarded the Port Authority a $30,000 grant to help start-up childcare businesses in Wabasha. Combined with $15,000 matching dollars the City of Wabasha set aside from its American Rescue Plan Act funds for child care, the Port Authority was able to provide four start-up in-home childcare businesses $9,000 to help get their business off the ground, and one existing in-home childcare business $2,500 to invest in new toys, equipment, and appliances.

In 2019 stakeholders in the Wabasha community began discussions about concerns regarding child care options in the area and formed a child care committee. The general consensus among the committee was that while there was a variety of child care options available, there was a small number of in-home providers at the time.

“We began investigating our childcare shortage very closely with a variety of stakeholders weighing in, including our existing local providers,” Wabasha Mayor Emily Durand said. “If we hadn’t done so, we would not have been as well positioned to execute the grant.

A Wabasha Child Care Needs Analysis conducted by FCF in conjunction with the child care committee found a shortage of 53 child care slots in the Wabasha-Kellogg School District, meaning this grant program filled about 75 percent of the shortage.

Cassie Jo Modjeski, a recipient of one of the child care grants, said the money allowed her to invest in some updates of the home she operates her business, Cassie’s Kids, out of. Last summer Cassie purchased a house in Wabasha that had been an in-home childcare business for several decades, and it needed some updates.

“It really played out perfectly with the timing,” she said. “The grant program allowed me to make some upgrades to give (the house) a fresh new look and make it safer (for the kids)… Without the grant money I probably wouldn’t have opened as soon as I did.”

Cathy Enerson, a representative from Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA)and Wabasha Port Authority staff member, applied for the grant awarded by FCF.

The Port Authority and City of Wabasha will continue to support initiatives relating to childcare, and are very proud of the success of the grant program. For more information, or if you’re interested in learning more about Wabasha’s child care committee and initiatives, contact the Port Authority at 651-565-4568 or email Ben Strand at ben.strand@cedausa.com.