By Robert Williams

Editor

Daycare continues to dominate discussions and be the primary priority of the Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA) / Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA). Multiple options are available, but no progress has been made, despite a number of those options being considered a win-win for all parties involved.

Options discussed are multiple church locations, or a church-owned location, and also a potential modular home rental location. Other rental areas have also been identified.

New York Mills and a few other cities were cited as having examples of having providers in different situations. The EDA/HRA wants to examine lease agreements and rental options that are being used in those locations.

“There’s not a straight answer across the board as you can imagine; everybody runs it differently,” said CEDA Associate Maddi Petrick.

There are state and county funds available, a childcare redevelopment grant via CEDA, along with a local non-profit organization’s sizable grant for any future construction phase.

“No matter what daycare location, church location we choose we are 97 percent sure we are going to have to have an architect, so know there is going to be a little cost up front no matter what location we choose,” said Petrick.

Discussions between EDA/HRA representatives and local churches have appeared to provide one or two plausible solutions, but those conversations are ongoing and have not reached a level of church board discussion or approval. More talks are planned, but they should be considered preliminary at best.

Petrick also discussed the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) that is open for applications this week through First Children’s Finance.

“It’s a pretty competitive program but they have worked with CEDA communities in the past,” said Petrick. “They have let us know internally that they like working with CEDA communities, so that is an advantage for you.”

Application to the 18-month program is free. 

“Their main objective is to support communities that have identified child care gaps; they do that in a couple different ways,” said Petrick.

Those include funding events helping people become child care providers, how to get licensed for home daycares or events for existing providers.

“They provided a lot of guidance; they’ve been doing this program for many, many years,” Petrick said. “They really want it to be community led – they’re just there to guide.”

According to RCCIP’s own description of the program, the purpose of RCCIP is to guide communities in identifying the scope and size of their child care challenges, and to empower and support communities to develop solutions to address these challenges.

More information is available at www.ruralchildcare.org/

The program involves a core team of 10-20 individuals and an 18-month commitment.

RCCIP is currently working on eight projects, including Park Rapids, that makes 44 Minnesota entities served from regions to counties to cities, including as nearby as Fergus Falls, Becker County and Wadena County.

Vergas would be the smallest community served, by far, with towns like Dawson, Boyd and Warren being the lowest populated areas served so far (less than 2,000 residents).

The program opens Aug. 13 with applications due a month later.

A RCCIP 2024 West Central Minnesota child care needs summary of Otter Tail County identified only two of 19 cities that had a surplus capacity of child care, Clitherall and Elizabeth, with those surpluses at a minimum—being two and three open spots, respectively. Vergas was listed as being short 26 child care spots. Fergus Falls (-382) and Pelican Rapids (-190) had the largest needs in the county.

The EDA/HRA agreed to work on forming a core team, while Petrick will begin the application process.

Commercial rehab

The EDA/HRA has received another grant request for the ongoing commercial rehabilitation program, which consists of $50,000 in funds available for businesses in town to use for exterior and facade update. A maximum of $5,000 is available per project

In November, the Vergas Housing and Redevelopment Authority received $25,000 in donations and that amount was doubled by a matching grant from the county. Most of those original donations came from Vergas State Bank ($5,000) and Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) donated $15,000.

Previous grants have been provided to Cutting Edge Salon, Summers Construction and Design Center (now Refined Homes), Wildfire Furs and Billy’s Corner Bar and Grill.

The latest application was submitted by Franklin Fence to spread crushed asphalt over their entire lot to improve dust control and appearance. Total cost for the project is estimated at $5,500. The application met all the grant qualifications and $2,750 was approved unanimously.

Multiple board members noted the project being a needed improvement.

Approximately half of the remaining $50,000 remains available for local businesses, something Petrick plans to promote within Vergas this September.