Great Falls, Montana businesses pivoting to fill childcare needs

From an economic development perspective, Jason Nitschke of the Great Falls Development Authority said that if businesses can’t get employees back to work fully or full productivity, “we’re in trouble and that’s unfortunately the reality.”

Recognizing that need, local agencies joined to create a summer childcare consortium. The group includes Family Connections, Great Falls Public Schools, Cascade County City-County Health Department, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Great Falls Development Authority.

The group is working with existing childcare providers as well as encouraging businesses who already have programs for children to pivot their business models to be able to expand to childcare programs. To do that, they’re helping businesses obtain emergency temporary licensing from the state and connecting them with food programs, scholarships, safety and screening protocols, employee forms and referral services.