Nonprofit now at the forefront of Beatrice-Gage County child care initiative
BEATRICE – Efforts to help improve the level of childcare services in the Beatrice area are now in the hands of a nonprofit group.
Gage Area Growth Enterprise, or NGage, has been working toward getting more childcare options in Beatrice and Gage County through grant support.
NGage Executive Director Rachel Kreikemeier says a newly-formed entity now coordinates that effort.
"The NGage Board voted to develop a non-profit to really spearhead this initiative, moving forward. NGage will still have a large seat at the table, but the new nonprofit is finally up and running. We have a board already gathered and working toward putting together sustainable solutions."
Kreikemeier spoke about the nonprofit….the Gage County Child Care Collaborative…. before the Beatrice Mayor and City Council Monday night. It has an eight-member board and will follow up on efforts by NGage to build capacity in area childcare services. "Minimum wage was voted to go up to fifteen dollars by 2026. That is already drastically impacting the childcare industry because they cannot afford to pay their workers without raising that minimum cost for childcare. Families already cannot afford that cost."
Kreikemeier says the collaborative will be a part of the upcoming annual Big Give Gage campaign to raise funds to help create a childcare sustainability fund.
"It could be tuition assistance for families to bridge that gap, those types of things. Really, this is just kind of a stepping stone project to get things going. And, there are going to be grants funneling down, so NGage is in the process of shifting some of the funding that we've received through the state, to push out to local childcare providers, that will all now be funneled through this nonprofit."
NGage also continues to address workforce issues, including partnerships with businesses trying to attract workers…including getting young people to stay in their community and take on career opportunities with local companies.