Flint Hills Community Accelerator - Childcare Business Initiative Update
We are excited to release additional details about the October 9th groundbreaking ceremony for the Flint Hills Community Accelerator - Childcare Business Initiative. Held at 2423 Kimball Avenue, the event marked a significant step toward addressing Riley County’s childcare shortage, which has long posed challenges to workforce participation and economic development. The ceremony featured remarks from prominent local and state leaders, including U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, and underscored the community-wide collaboration behind this initiative.
The Childcare Business Initiative is part of the larger Flint Hills Community Accelerator (FHCA), a collaborative effort composed of four key partners:
- Childcare Business Initiative: Provides information, training, and support for childcare providers and professionals, helping them establish and grow their businesses.
- Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC): Developed a new childcare program with dedicated faculty to provide hands-on training and education for future childcare professionals.
- KANSASWORKS Manhattan Workforce Center/Heartland Works, Inc.: Offers space in the Flint Hills area to support individuals seeking employment and education opportunities.
- Manhattan Free Clinic: Expands clinical services to the western part of Manhattan, making healthcare more accessible for families in the region.
The Childcare Business Initiative will operate as a business incubator, supporting entrepreneurial childcare providers with resources, training, and mentorship to establish sustainable businesses. With $5.6 million in state grant funding contributing to an estimated total project cost of $8 million, the initiative has a projected capacity to create up to 96 childcare slots, depending on the ages and class sizes determined by each provider. The project aims to provide immediate relief to families while fostering long-term solutions. As part of the Flint Hills Community Accelerator, the Childcare Business Initiative is set to transform childcare access and strengthen economic stability in the region.
