The Innovation Center is pleased to announce that they are the recipient of a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation to pilot a home-based childcare recruitment initiative in Northwest Kansas.

The pilot project will address the lack of childcare in Northwest Kansas by recruiting fifteen new home-based childcare providers across the region. 

The pilot will be coordinated by Innovation Center Childcare Program Specialist, Dana Jo Stanton.  “While many rural communities have significant childcare needs, they typically don’t have the workforce to staff large centers.  Small home-based childcare facilities are often a better fit for rural communities, but potential providers lack start-up funding and follow-along support,” said Stanton.

In addition to start-up funding, the project will provide mentorship from experienced childcare providers and business support from the Innovation Center to successfully establish new childcare providers.

The new initiative is scheduled to begin in 2026 and will be open to people who reside in both the Innovation Center and Patterson Family Foundation service area including Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, and Wallace Counties. 

“The Innovation Center views childcare as a vital economic development and quality of life issue” said Innovation Center President and CEO, Scott Sproul.  “We are appreciative to the Patterson Family Foundation for the opportunity to pilot a project that fits the specific needs of our rural communities.”

For more information about the new home-based childcare recruitment initiative or about the other childcare services offered by the Innovation Center, contact Stanton at 785-874-5150 or by email at danajstanton@nwkeici.org.