Growing childcare: Sioux Falls groups lean into business training

Grant funding seeks to ease tight supply of daycare options

Sioux Falls leaders are hopeful a daycare business boot camp, startup grants, and a centralized inventory for available childcare options will help put a dent in the city’s daycare shortage.

That’s how Startup Sioux Falls and Lutheran Social Services will use $284,000 of funds received through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s Community-Based Childcare Grant Program, with the goal of cultivating hundreds of new daycare slots within the city, the organizations announced at a news conference Monday at City Hall.

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“There’s a shortage of childcare spots for children, so we took this approach to … increase that pipeline,” said Jenna Harris, a policy advisor in Mayor Paul TenHaken’s office.

Doubling as a workforce development initiative, the program will target business training for aspiring childcare entrepreneurs, including a two-day weekend boot camp and a 10-week training program.

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