GRAND RAPIDS — Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited KOOTASCA Community Action’s Early Childhood Hub in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, Oct. 16, to learn more about the successes and challenges of the unique child care facility.
KOOTASCA just recently moved its offices to the former Murphy Elementary building, and the early childhood hub has been here for a year. The hub houses the organization’s own early childhood programs like Head Start, but it’s also home to Grand Rapids Schools’ Early Childhood Family Education and two private child care providers.
Klobuchar, D-Minn., said she loves the idea of the hub.
“I just think we need to look at more incentives for places like this, because we need more child care that’s affordable, high quality like this,” she said. “These playgrounds, the gym — it’s just absolutely beautiful.”
Klobuchar met one of the private providers, Jessa Roy, who said she offered child care in her home for years, but likely would not still be in the business if not for the hub.
“This facility is wonderful,” Roy said. “... I feel very, very lucky.”
She explained the other private provider is very young and still lives at home with her parents, so she would not be able to run her business without having space in KOOTASCA’s hub.
During the visit, Klobuchar and KOOTASCA staff discussed the need for regulatory changes to help support designs like the hub.
Executive Director Maureen Rosato told Klobuchar that the private providers must have their own separate entrances, and their kids can’t intermingle with KOOTASCA’s. This means they can’t even use the playground at the same time.
“These are state rules, but a lot of states have them,” Klobuchar said. “I’m just wondering, that they need to change some of these rules with exceptions for different models. ‘Cause you could have more in here if you had them.”
Klobuchar and staff also noted that the child care shortage is impacting all families, regardless of location or income.
“It’s everyone,” Klobuchar said. “In some ways, because it’s such a massive need in rural areas of our country, it does create an opening for political support.”
Dozens of bipartisan bills attempting to address the child care shortage have been introduced since January 2023, including one by Klobuchar, though only a few have received committee hearings.
