A Rare Chance to Secure Child Care Funding in Iowa Has Returned

The public school system I attended in the nation's capital did a lot of outreach.  They would find businesses in the community that would mentor or allow students to learn on the job.  If you expressed an interest, they would try to find a place for you.

I was volunteering at the fire department at the time, but that doesn't do much for the bank account.  I asked the school if there was anywhere that was looking for help, and it's funny the things we remember.  This is very vivid in my memory.  My counselor leaned back in her chair and pointed out the window to a small brick building that was down the block.  She said the daycare center right there is looking for some general help.

She told them about me being an EMT and that I had first aid and CPR knowledge. We also found out I also had a knack for toddler wrangling.  That's apparently where my growth stopped.  Maybe that's why I got along with toddlers, we're both experiencing the terrible twos.  I'm just prolonging mine.

What Does It Cost for Daycare?

I worked at the daycare for several years, even sticking around a bit after I graduated high school. The people were great, but one thing that really stood out was the cost. For whatever reason, there were times when you’d find yourself holding a check for daycare services—and let me tell you, it wasn’t cheap.

This was over 30 years ago, but even back then I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot!” But the craziest part? The daycare didn’t just have a waiting list—it was cutthroat. If you took a vacation or were sick for a week, you had to pay for that week anyway, or you’d get booted and the next person on the list would take your spot.

There were so many rules about payments and cancellations that I can’t even remember them all, but trust me, it was wild. Honestly, I was just glad I didn’t have to deal with them directly. But one thing’s for sure—when it comes to child care, the costs just keep going up, no matter how much time passes!

What Does It Cost For Childcare in Iowa?

If you're in need of childcare in Iowa, you're not alone.  According to Illumine, there are roughly 1801 licensed daycares in the state of Iowa, and the annual average cost of that care is $10,000.  At my last job, one of the front desk people left when they realized she was working to provide childcare for their two children, and that she would rather do it herself. So she did.

Before she left, I learned of the chocolate eclair pie. It's a pie that tastes like a chocolate eclair, and it was, and is UH-mazing!  This isn't her recipe for the chocolate eclair pie, but it's a recipe - All Recipes.  You can research and find one that suits your taste buds.

What is Iowa Doing About Childcare?

Iowa's got a sweet deal for businesses looking to help their employees juggle work and kids—because let’s face it, child care is a big deal! The Child Care Business Incentive Grant is back, and it's ready to help businesses build or expand child care options for their staff. Whether you want to build a fancy new daycare center on-site or team up with a local provider, this grant’s got you covered.

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Here’s the lowdown:

• The grant is fueled by federal pandemic relief money (thanks, American Rescue Plan!).
• If your business has at least 75 full-time employees and you're not in the child care biz, you’re in!
• You’ll need to match the grant with 50% of your own funds—think of it as a “let’s work together” situation.
• The money can go toward building or expanding childcare facilities for employees, either right at your business or with a local partner.

Wait, there’s more! Priority will go to businesses in areas where child care is in high demand, projects that create new child care slots for multiple age groups, and those cool places that want to build on-site child care centers. If you’re doing something awesome, you’ll probably get bumped to the front of the line.

There is a Deadline!

You’ve got until December 23rd to apply (don’t miss it!), and the whole process is through iowagrants.gov.