NGage adds community coordinator for childcare initiative

BEATRICE – Gage Area Growth Enterprise, known as NGage, has hired a community coordinator of childcare programs.  

Dee Enevoldsen was introduced to the organization’s board of directors at their meeting, on Tuesday.  She is originally from the Grand Island area. 

The economic development group is finishing use of a Communities For Kids grant totaling $78,500 to provide support to area childcare providers looking to expand their services.  

NGage Executive Director Rachel Kreikemeier says the organization recently learned it has been awarded a second round of grant funding for the project, totaling $73,500.  An application process for those funds will be getting underway in the future.  Kreikemeier says there have been other sources of funding the Gage County organization has been able to use to address a shortage of childcare services.

Availability of childcare services is considered one of the crucial issues for workforce development…with lack of that care sometimes preventing family members from entering the workforce….adding to a shortage of workers.