It Takes a Village to Build Child Care 

In the early care and education world, we often hear the phrase “It takes a village.” Nowhere is that more true than in the small lakeside community of Ottertail. 

The City of Ottertail—population 721—sits on the east side of Otter Tail Lake, the largest lake in Otter Tail County and a major hub for regional tourism. When winter arrives, and seasonal residents head south, a core group of local business owners, city staff, and families remain. It’s this committed group that chose to take on one of the community’s most persistent challenges: access to child care. 

For more than a decade, Ottertail business owners have voiced concerns about the lack of available child care. Family child-care providers would occasionally open a new program, fill immediately, and then close for various reasons, despite strong local support. The cycle left families scrambling and employers struggling to recruit and retain workers. 

Turning Concern into a Community Plan

Three years ago, West Central Initiative provided funding to Otter Tail County through the Minnesota Initiative Foundation Legislative Appropriations funding to contract with a dedicated child-care project manager. Tammy Anderson, the contracted manager, brought deep experience as a former child-care center director, an early childhood educator, and a nonprofit fundraiser. Working with the Ottertail Community Group, she helped define the child care need and develop an innovative plan: construct two twin homes designed specifically to house four Rule 2 Special License Family Child Care programs, with capacity to serve roughly 48 children. 

“The child-care project manager role was a missing piece in building and sustaining the early care and education workforce,” said Marsha Erickson, West Central Initiative Early Childhood Specialist. “The Minnesota Initiative Foundation Legislative Appropriations funding allowed us to create this role, which supports the community in connecting with resources and funding sources and in gathering the many pieces needed to bring the project to fruition.”  

From Vision to Licensed Child-Care Homes

Tammy also guided the group through a successful fundraising campaign and supported them as construction began on the new Ottertail Family Center. All four care spaces were recently licensed and are enrolling children. Early interest is strong enough that the committee anticipates a waiting list of future providers. 

Throughout this process, the county licensor and the Child Care Aware Wayfinder Navigator have been actively supporting prospective providers as they work toward licensure and prepare their environments. Providers have also participated in First Children’s Finance’s Business Leadership cohort for new child-care entrepreneurs.   

Building a Model for Greater Minnesota

This spring, the group will start on stage two, a new community center that includes a large indoor motor space available to the child-care programs.  

Although still a relatively new model, the Rule 2 Special Family Child Care License has become a valuable strategy for Greater Minnesota communities seeking to expand child-care capacity. These projects give communities something tangible to rally around and open doors for individuals who want to enter the child-care profession but can’t use or don’t own a suitable home. Many newly graduated early childhood professionals have already found success through this model—demonstrating how powerful a village can be when it comes together.