Regional Partnership Tackles Childcare Shortages

Partnership Between GFDC, Midland University MBA Students Tackles Childcare Shortages

To address the childcare shortage and challenges related to affordable and accessible care in the area, the Greater Fremont Development Council (GFDC) teamed up with Midland University MBA students to pinpoint what could be done to evolve the industry into something better.  

The capstone project, a requirement for graduation, entrusts students with the responsibility of managing consulting initiatives in close collaboration with an industry partner while under the guidance of a faculty advisor.

“As we began our analysis, it quickly became evident that the childcare sector in Fremont
faces numerous challenges, from barriers to entry for new providers to ongoing operational
struggles for existing facilities,” the project report stated.

Why the area’s childcare industry is struggling was a question that remained unanswered, although the team quickly identified what may be to blame.

The Greatest Challenge

When the study began, there was some thought given to whether the aftermath of COVID-19 was to blame. However, it quickly became apparent that childcare facilities in the area seemed to be struggling well before the pandemic began in 2020.

Midland MBA students Halle Meyer, Rece Kissinger, and Baxter Wirth took a deep look at the 14 facilities in the area, including the most common challenges they face. They did this by taking a multi-pronged approach that included:

1. Asset Mapping: Conducting an analysis of the existing childcare facilities in Fremont, including their capacities, prices, and ages served. During their research, they discovered that many facilities are either near or at full capacity, indicating very high demand. 
2. Barriers to Entry and Current Challenges: Leading the way in these categories were problems surrounding the financial sustainability of child care facilities and the complexity of navigating regulatory hurdles, such as obtaining liability insurance for non-traditional hours of operation. Also of note was an overarching issue of workforce shortages, namely finding and retaining staff members due to low compensation rates. 
3. Resource Mapping: There’s a collaborative framework of public, private, and non-profit resources to support childcare that already exists in Fremont. This includes partnership building with GFDC, access to the state’s LB840 Economic Development Fund for start-up capital, and Midland University/Fremont High School for workforce training. But there seemed to be a clear gap in connecting new and existing childcare facilities to those resources.

Challenges… and Opportunities

Offering affordable and accessible childcare for working families has become a top priority for GFDC. And while the Capstone Project identified a clear need for more childcare providers, it didn’t end there.

​​”Research conducted by the team revealed a critical insight from Fremont child care providers: the obstacles that hinder entry into the industry don't simply disappear once a facility becomes licensed and operational. Instead, they evolve into persistent, daily challenges that providers must continuously navigate,” the report stated.

As the students concluded their report, they recommended that GFDC embrace a blended strategy to address the childcare shortage and challenges through: 

• Employer Childcare Partnerships
• Start-Up Incentives 
• Flexible Childcare Pilots
• Community Driven Initiatives
• Building an early childhood workforce pipeline

The Midland Capstone Project also embraced the idea that with every challenge facing the childcare industry in Fremont comes an opportunity.

“By highlighting key challenges and identifying targeted resources, we aim to support your efforts in fostering a more robust, accessible childcare infrastructure that will benefit both providers and families in Fremont for years to come,” the report concluded.

For more information about the services GFDC offers to working families and childcare providers, contact us today!