The lack of available child care is a significant issue for Cottonwood County businesses and employees.
But a request for the county to help subsidize day care facilities run by three county school districts met a chilly reception by Cottonwood County Commissioners Tuesday.
Representatives of the Windom’s Way Forward group spoke to the board about plans to convert a portion of the Highland school building to create a day care facility.
The group requested an annual commitment of $28,000 for five years to the Mt. Lake and Westbrook-Walnut Grove districts for operation of their existing day cares and to Windom for one that will open in the fall. That makes an annual commitment of $82,000, for a total five-year subsidy of $410,000.
However, the board expressed concerns about cash flow after five years, as well as school districts within the county that do not operate day care facilities.
No action was taken by the board.
More from Tuesday’s meeting appears in the March 18 print and e-editions of the Citizen.
