Childcare Ready

Communities and businesses across Iowa are facing workforce shortages like never before. Just like affordable housing, quality childcare is an important piece of the economic development puzzle.    Story County has seen a 29% decrease in the number of childcare programs in the last 5 years.  Childcare shortages and workforce shortages may not have a visible link; but both continue to impact recruitment and retention efforts for area businesses.  Child Care Ready is one effort addressing the need for more childcare in Story County.
​
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR & R) has packaged all of the steps to become a registered Child Development Home or a new center employee into one unique training opportunity.  The training includes rolling fingerprints, setting up training accounts, basic business practices, professionalism, pre-service trainings including CPR/First Aid, consultation and support services.  All at no cost.  CCR & R is partnering with the Ames Chamber of Commerce, IowaWorks, the Ames Public Library, BooSt ECI and United Way of Story County to provide all of this and additional incentives for starting a new child development home program for those that complete an assessment with their local CCR&R consultant.