Client Success Story: Expanding Child Care Access
The Mapleton Economic Development Authority (EDA) has been selected as one of 25 organizations across Minnesota to receive a FY25 Child Care Economic Development Grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). This $175,120 grant, written by Rural Pathways, will help fund the Child Care House initiative—an innovative, shovel-ready project developed by Business of Child Care to address the critical shortage of child care services.
Child Care House: A Purpose-Built Solution
“This project represents a significant step forward in ensuring Mapleton remains a place where families can thrive. By expanding access to high-quality child care, we are not only meeting an immediate need but also strengthening our local economy and making our community an even more attractive place to live and work.”
The Child Care House is an 800-square-foot, prefabricated facility designed as a replicable model for rural communities. It provides a fully licensed, residential-style environment for children, providing a right-sized, scalable approach that aligns with Mapleton’s workforce and economic development goals.
Addressing Mapleton’s Child Care Needs
Demand for child care is increasing across Mapleton, Amboy, Good Thunder, and Minnesota Lake, placing pressure on existing providers. Currently, the region has only one child care center and 10 family child care providers, offering a total of 138 licensed spaces. Meanwhile, school-year enrollment for children ages 0-4 surged from 270 in 2019-2020 to 345 in 2022-2023. Recognizing child care as a key driver of community growth and economic stability, Mapleton leaders have identified this project as a critical opportunity to expand child care access while supporting existing providers.
Project Highlights
Location: Mapleton, a community of 1,674 residents in Blue Earth County
Site: A vacant lot located just blocks from the local school
Capacity: Up to 12 children in a licensed family child care setting
Deployment Timeline: 9 months
Project Contributors: Business of Child Care, project lead overseeing the initiative; Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group, managing site acquisition, construction, and final development; Lakeshore Learning & Rainbow Play Systems, providing high-quality learning materials and play equipment; and Rural Pathways, leading the funding road map and investment strategy
Community Benefits
This initiative builds on years of planning and early research supported by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), which helped assess Mapleton’s child care challenges and develop sustainable solutions. The Child Care House is about more than expanding child care—it’s about strengthening Mapleton’s future:
Boosting Workforce Participation: Reliable child care enables parents to remain in or re-enter the workforce, supporting local economic activity.
Attracting & Retaining Families: Quality child care makes Mapleton a more desirable place to live and work.
Supporting Local Employers & Businesses: Child care is a fundamental service that fuels economic growth and long-term community sustainability.
A Blueprint for Rural Child Care Expansion
The Child Care House project is estimated to cost $299,000, including the acquisition of a designated lot. While the $175,120 DEED grant written by Rural Pathways provides a strong foundation, additional funding is required. Our customized road map prioritizes 15 distinct funding sources for Mapleton, ensuring optimal use of grant funds while minimizing financial barriers for providers and families.
A combination of DEED grant funding, Mapleton’s funding road map, and the Child Care House, serve as an innovative model for addressing the child care crisis in rural communities.
Learn More
For the official grant announcement, visit the Minnesota Governor’s Office Press Releases.
For more details about Mapleton’s Child Care House initiative, contact Mayor Jeff Annis.
To explore Child Care House project details, contact Jeff Andrews, president of Business of Child Care.
To learn more about Rural Pathways’ funding road maps, check this out. We specialize in developing customized funding plans that align grant opportunities, investment strategies, and sustainable financing solutions for long-term success. Contact us today to explore how we can help turn your vision into reality.
Citation: Anderson, Charity & Gilpin, Staci. (2025). Client Success Story: Expanding Child Care Access. Rural Pathways News.