Flint Hills Community Accelerator - Childcare Business Initiative Breaks Ground
The community of Manhattan celebrated the groundbreaking of the Flint Hills Community Accelerator/Childcare Business Initiative project on October 9, 2024. The project is funded by $5.6 million in government grants and a land partnership with Ascension Via Christi. The primary focus of this initiative was the vital effort to address the critical shortage of childcare placements in the region, which has been a significant barrier to workforce recruitment and retention. The initiative will provide entrepreneurial childcare providers the tools and support to start and grow their businesses, creating much-needed childcare capacity for local families.
The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF), in collaboration with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and Ascension Via Christi, partnered to work with the Childcare Business Initiative, Manhattan Area Technical College, Heartland Works, and Manhattan Free Clinic to make this effort possible.
The Childcare Business Initiative, designed to support childcare small businesses, will provide eight new childcare businesses yearly, offering providers training, mentorship, and operational support. Community leaders, including U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and local officials, spoke at the event, emphasizing the project's importance for economic development and family well-being. This initiative represents a significant step forward in creating long-term solutions to Manhattan's childcare crisis while supporting the local workforce.
More updates will come soon, so follow the Childcare Business Initiative on Facebook!
