A childcare assistance program in West Fargo was the focus of Minot’s Childcare Committee as it took a look Wednesday at innovative ways to address the local shortage of options for working parents.

Casey Sanders-Berglund, economic development manager in West Fargo, coordinates the program and provided details in meeting with the Minot committee virtually.

“We wanted to support our childcare centers,” she said. “We knew that was a goal, but also knew that the overarching goal was keeping and putting more community members into the workforce.”

Following a community survey to get a picture of childcare use and availability, West Fargo created the Childcare Facility Improvement Grant for centers, group and home-based childcare entities. It is funded with up to $1 million set aside through West Fargo’s economic development sales tax, although Sanders-Berglund said the program is unlikely to spend the full amount.

In terms of success, Sanders-Berglund said monitoring is occurring to measure results over time. However, she spoke of helping one facility licensed for 115 children that was about to close its doors because of the costs associated with a floor replacement that was required for health and safety reasons. Also, two providers used grants to shift priorities to just take infants, working to eventually transition toddlers to other providers through partnerships with those other facilities, she added.

Through the West Fargo program, centers can apply for up to $20,000, with an additional $15,000 to create capacity to take more infants. After- and before-school programs also are eligible for up to $20,000. In-home daycares can seek up to $7,500, and daycares in leased space with a group license are eligible for up to $10,000. Within those funding caps, there also are limits on how much can be awarded for particular types of projects or equipment. Money is distributed as reimbursements after expenses are verified.

Currently, 39 applications have been approved, Sanders-Berglund said.

“One thing that I would just caution is that it’s a hand-holding project, if you will, because many childcare owners don’t necessarily have robust business plans if they are not a full-on center,” she said.

In terms of community response, Sanders-Berglund said there have been residents who don’t like spending taxpayer dollars on childcare. The response to those concerns is the program is an economic development program funded with a sales tax, she said.

Should the program continue going forward, Sanders-Berglund said, she would like to see funds set aside specifically for new childcare facilities and for emergency expenses of facilities.

The Minot Childcare Committee is gathering information to look at additional models for childcare assistance after examining West Fargo’s approach.

“It’s not necessarily a solution,” Sanders-Berglund said, “but it’s maybe our small piece of the pie that, hopefully, keeps people going to work and kids in safe care.”