MINOT – The availability and cost of daycare for children is a growing issue in many areas, Minot and Minot Air Force Base included. Without sufficient and affordable daycare both businesses and communities can encounter difficulties in hiring or attracting people.
“It’s an issue that so many employers and families are dealing with,” said Scott Burlingame, chairman, Committee on Childcare in Minot. “If we can create more childcare slots, more people can go to work and more people can be welcome in this community. It’s just such an important thing.”
Minot’s Committee on Childcare conducted an informational meeting at City Hall Thursday. Among the challenges voiced at the meeting was the availability of space suitable for daycare facilities.
“We hear a lot of childcare providers are struggling to find space,” said Burlingame.
Committee member Rianne Kuhn addressed the issue, saying the cost of space that is available in the city is an issue.
“Providers are trying to find space that works and not go into debt to make that happen,” said Kuhn.
Compounding the problem is difficulties encountered when attempting to hire daycare staff. The need for increased pay for providers was discussed by the committee. However, higher pay for daycare workers could lead to higher costs for parents already burdened with daycare expenses.
“It’s a supply and demand thing. If you have a massive demand for childcare prices are going to go up,” stated Burlingame. “I we can create more childcare providers, hopefully, we can at least level off that price or even bring it down a little bit.”
A representative of Minot AFB addressed the committee, explaining that ample childcare has become a concern for military families relocating to Minot.
