Each week in February, the CGMC is shining a light on a different topic that impacts Greater Minnesota cities. For the week of Feb. 8-12 we are focusing on child care.

The child care crisis is a major barrier to economic growth across all corners of the state. According to a 2020 report from First Children’s Finance, Greater Minnesota needs an additional 39,000 child care spots to meet demand. On top of that, the child care industry — which was struggling before — has been hit especially hard by the pandemic. This legislative session, CGMC is pursuing several bills that aim to help stabilize the child care marketplace and create more capacity in Greater Minnesota.

Here are of the ways you can highlight the child care crisis and join other Greater Minnesota city leaders by participating in Child Care Advocacy Week:  

1. Get informed

Learn more about the child care crisis and CGMC’s plans to help address this issue in these two handouts:

You can also learn about Greater Minnesota’s child care shortage in this short video:

 

2. Attend our child care webinar

We are hosting a free webinar on Tuesday that will explore “What City and State Leaders Need to Know About the Child Care Crisis.” The webinar will feature a conversation between Greater Minnesota Partnership Executive Director Scott McMahon and Suzanne Pearl, Minnesota Director with First Children’s Finance, followed by a Q&A session with the participants.  

The webinar is from 11:00-11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9. To register for the virtual event, click here. 

3. Contact your legislators

Call, email or send a letter to your state legislators stressing the need for investments in child care in Greater Minnesota and the role child care plays in your community’s economic development. We encourage you to share the The Child Care Conundrum: Exploring solutions to the child care shortage in Greater Minnesota and Wanted: Child care facilities in Greater Minnesota handouts with them as well.   

You can find your legislators’ contact information at Who Represents Me? 

4. Like & share our posts on social media (and add your own!) 

We will be posting about child care on social media all week. Be sure to follow CGMC on Facebook (facebook.com/greatermncities) and Twitter (@greatermncities). Please like, retweet and share our posts — and add your own! — using the hashtag #GreaterMNChildCare. We encourage you to tag your legislators in the posts as well!  

Past & Future Advocacy Weeks  

  • Feb. 1 – Feb. 5: LGA Week
  • Feb. 8 – Feb. 12: Child Care Week  
  • Feb. 15 – Feb. 19: Water Infrastructure Week  
  • Feb. 22 – Feb. 26: Housing Week  

Questions? If you have any questions about the CGMC’s child care initiatives or CGMC Advocacy Weeks, please contact Julie Liew at jlliew@flaherty-hood.com.