The Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc. (Innovation Center) believes that the best way to improve childcare is to support our current childcare providers and recruit new providers.
The services below are available to licensed childcare providers in our 26-county service area. There is no cost for any service provided.
The Innovation Center is partnering with local public libraries to make activity kits available to childcare providers. A variety of themed kits are available for check-out. The purpose of the kits is to enhance the activities, manipulatives and early childhood educational toys available to childcare providers.
Participating libraries include:
New childcare providers are required to submit fingerprint for their background check. Existing childcare providers are required to update their fingerprints every five years. Our Childcare Program Specialist will come to your home-based or center-based childcare business to provide free fingerprint services. Please contact the Childcare Program Specialist at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150 to schedule an appointment.
Free grant writing services are available to any NWKS childcare provider or childcare facility. Please contact the Childcare Program Specialist at danajstanton@nwkeici.org ot 785-874-5150 to learn more.
The Innovation Center hosts multiple free childcare professional development events each year. In addition to 5 hours of KDHE approved training, we can also make arrangements for CPR/First Aid trainings.
The fourth annual NWKS Childcare Provider Conference will be held August 6 & 7 (Thursday and Friday), 2026. UPDATE: The location of the conference has moved to Fort Hays State University in Hays.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS DETAILED CONFERENCE INFORMATION
The conference is sponsored by the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc.
The conference is open to licensed childcare providers and substitutes in the following counties: Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Jewell, Republic, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Lincoln, Ottawa, Ellsworth and Saline Counties.
There is no registration fee for childcare providers. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging arrangements. There will be a block of discounted rooms set aside for participants at a later date.
Currently, all conference slots are filled, but providers are encouraged to register as slots typically become available after our registration check, allowing most to get a seat.
You can register online here or through the QR code below.
Not sure if this conference is for you? Check out our video from the 2025 conference:
The Early Childhood Education Staff Retention Grant is designed to provide financial recognition for early childhood staff, reduce costs associated with staff turnover, and stabilize the workforce. This grant enables full-time and part-time staff members in good standing to earn a bonus for every six months he or she stays employed at the SAME center. This grant can be applied for once a year as funds are available. Grants are limited to one application per KDHE license.
Grant applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Compensation is based on longevity and employment status as illustrated in the chart below:
Grantees will receive enough funding for each staff member to receive two bonuses a year. It is suggested that longevity bonuses are paid to staff members in December and May. In addition, each grantee will receive additional funding to cover payroll taxes.
Applicants must complete this worksheet (either the PDF or EXCEL file) and upload to the online grant application:
WORKSHEET FOR CHILDCARE STAFF RETENTION GRANT (PDF) or
WORKSHEET FOR CHILDCARE STAFF RETENTION GRANT (EXCEL)
Grantees may be required to provide follow-up grant reporting including, but not limited to facility demographics, and financial documents.
Grant Deadline: Grant applications are due either October 25 or April 25.
Questions: Questions (or application assistance) should be directed to the Innovation Center Childcare Program Specialist Dana Stanton at danajstanton@nwkeici.org or 785-874-5150.
Childcare Provider Appreciation day is celebrated the Friday before Mother’s Day. Please contact our Childcare Program Specialist to develop ways to honor the childcare providers in your community.
The Kansas Housing Cooperative Program is on its way to helping families build new homes in Northwest Kansas. Stay tuned as we finalize the details of this exciting initiative. Check back soon for more information!
