FOUR YEARS OF IMPACT
What We Accomplished. What We Learned. What Comes Next.
Four years ago, Reno County received an unprecedented opportunity. Through the American Rescue Plan Act, the City of Hutchinson and Reno County entrusted the Reno County Child Care Task Force with $6.1 million to help stabilize and expand child care during a fragile post-COVID period.
Because Reno County had already spent years listening to providers, families, employers, and community partners, our community was prepared to act. That investment helped secure more than $2 million in additional state funding—bringing total support for child care to more than $8 million.
The result was more than grants. Together, we supported providers, expanded capacity, invested in the workforce, tested new ideas, and learned more about what it will take to build a sustainable child care system for the future.
OUR IMPACT
$5.2 MILLION
DIRECT PROVIDER INVESTMENT
Grants, training incentives, & appreciation incentives
91
CHILDCARE PROGRAMS SUPPORTED
70 home providers + 21 centers
898
CHILDREN IMPACTED
Across care settings throughout Reno County
THE INVESTMENT AT WORK
$2.28M
Provider Stabilization
Retention grants helped child care programs remain open, stable, and responsive to families.
$451K
Infant Care Support
Infant incentives helped offset the higher cost of providing care for Reno County’s youngest children.
419
New Child Care Slots Created
Accelerator Grant investments expanded lasting child care capacity across Reno County.
28
Training Opportunities Offered
Local professional development made required and high-quality training more accessible to providers.
4,252
Hours of Workforce Development
Providers completed thousands of hours of in-service training, with 755 total training attendances.
$46,731
Invested Directly in Providers
Training incentives recognized providers for the time they committed to professional growth.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Four years of investment gave Reno County more than new programs and child care slots. It gave us better information about what a strong child care system requires.
Child Care Is Workforce Infrastructure
Reliable child care supports families, employers, and our local economy.
Stronger Providers Create a Stronger System
Sustainable business practices and operational support help programs remain open and successful.
People Are the Greatest Need
Recruiting, retaining, and developing child care professionals remains one of our biggest challenges.
Infant Care Is Financially Fragile
Smaller ratios and greater staffing needs make infant care particularly expensive to provide.
Efficiency of Center Design Determines Whether Operations Survive
Buildings are the easiest to talk about and the hardest to sustain.
Affordability Matters
Provider sustainability and family affordability must be considered together—especially for working families who may not qualify for assistance.
Collaboration Works
The progress of the last four years was possible because providers, families, businesses, funders, government, and community organizations worked together.