10/18/2025
The Child Care-Poverty Connection
Across Minnesota, infant care averages over $1,200 per month — more than many families pay for housing. In rural areas like Cottonwood, Jackson, and Nobles counties, the problem isn’t only cost, but availability. Many communities are classified as “child care deserts,” with far more children under age five than licensed slots to serve them.
For single parents and lower-income households, this shortage has real consequences. Without affordable care, parents often reduce work hours, leave jobs, or turn down opportunities for advancement. When a parent can’t work or must rely on unstable employment, household income falls, and poverty becomes harder to escape. It’s a cycle that disproportionately affects women, particularly single mothers, who make up a large share of those forced out of the workforce due to lack of child care.
Economic and Community Impact
The child care shortage is more than a family issue — it’s an economic one. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), lack of child care is among the top barriers preventing people from reentering the workforce. In Southwest Minnesota, where employers already struggle to fill open positions in health care, manufacturing, and education, this creates a major economic constraint.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation estimates that child care breakdowns cost Minnesota’s economy more than $2 billion annually in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue. Businesses lose workers, parents lose income, and communities lose economic momentum.
The Generational Cost
Affordable child care isn’t just about helping parents — it’s about shaping the future for children and communities. Early childhood education lays the foundation for academic success, social skills, and long-term earning potential. Children who participate in high-quality early learning programs are more likely to graduate high school, attend college, and achieve stable employment.
Changing the Narrative
Child care "has always been a problem" is no longer an acceptable response. The new narrative is "How Can We" fix the child care shortage. WE is the key.
Taking Action
Communities are stepping up to tackle this challenge. Projects like the planned Child Care Center in Windom, a partnership of Windom Area Schools, the City of Windom, and local business leaders aim to expand access to affordable, licensed child care for working families. By remodeling and repurposing existing school facilities, the project would create new capacity for infant, toddler, and preschool care. This a critical step toward expanding the local workforce and supporting young families.
