Redwood County Child Care Plan Identifies Shortage of More Than 200 Spaces

Redwood County is short more than 200 child care spaces for children from birth through age 5, according to a new community action plan described in the fall 2026 Redwood County Connection newsletter.

The shortage is affecting both families and employers. Nearly one-third of parents who responded to local surveys said they had turned down employment or left the workforce because of child care difficulties, the county newsletter reports. The figure describes surveyed parents, not all parents in the county.

The Community Solution Action Plan was developed through the Rural Child Care Innovation Program, facilitated by First Children’s Finance. Local surveys, focus groups and virtual town hall meetings helped identify barriers to finding and providing care.

The plan sets five goals: expanding child care facilities and locations, creating a local child care fund, helping existing programs remain financially sustainable, developing the child care workforce, and improving community outreach and awareness. Workgroups drawn from county officials, providers and community partners are assigned to pursue those goals over the coming year.

The staffing challenge is also drawing attention elsewhere in southwest Minnesota. In an Aug. 19 report, LYFT Career Pathways described work with regional partners to help students pursue the Child Development Associate credential while still in high school. LYFT also cited a need for more than 200 additional child care slots in Redwood County. The training effort is a regional initiative, separate from the county’s action plan.

The Redwood County Economic Development Authority has posted the Community Solution Action Plan on its child care webpage, along with a link to licensed provider information. The newsletter does not specify how many new child care spaces the plan will create or when those spaces might become available.