WEST FARGO (KFGO) – The City of West Fargo has announced a grant program to help improve childcare facilities.
The funding was approved by the West Fargo City Commission at the start of the month. The grants totaling nearly $332,000 were awarded to 27 local childcare providers.
“It was really nice to see West Fargo’s continued support for childcare in their community,” Human Services Division Executive Director Jessica Thomasson said. “I think it’s a great example of what other communities around the state have been trying to do. It looks a little bit different in every place. I think local elected officials are trying to figure out how to support the childcare business community that serves families in their area.”
Thomasson said the West Fargo model is one of the latest ideas coming from local-level officials joining the effort to help support childcare services.
“Williston and Watford City have historically been able to use some of their economic development funds to support childcare in a variety of ways,” Thomasson said. “I think there are a couple of really cool cooperative models that communities and local businesses have partnered together with childcare. From the state perspective, we’re really excited to see local engagement in the issue of childcare. I think this speaks to the fact that it’s not an issue that can be solved by any one party. It really takes everyone coming to the table. It’s good to see the creativity out there.”
Thomasson said on any given day, there are some 1,300 licensed childcare providers in North Dakota with spaces for some 40,000 children age zero to age 12. She said those spaces are spread out over a “strong mix” of large childcare centers and home-based care operations.
