The Eastern Montana Economic Development Authority (EMEDA) and Head Start are collaborating to bring new childcare options to Baker.
EMEDA, a six-member committee headed by Chairman Steve Zachmann and Executive Director Vaughn Zenko, began examining childcare as an economic development issue for Fallon County in 2018.
“There are only four counties in all of Montana with no licensed childcare- three of them are Fallon, Carter and Wibaux Counties,” said Zenko, speaking on figures from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry about the counties which would potentially be served by a facility in Baker. “In a 2022 survey by EMEDA, 90% of Fallon County residents with children said they’ve been late to work, left work early or missed a day of work in the last month due to child care concerns. In a January 2020 survey by SMART, 86.96% of respondents said they find the idea of a high quality early childcare center in Fallon County ‘Very Favorable’.”
In 2022, Head Start approached EMEDA and expressed interest in expanding to Baker. Head Start is federally ran through the Office of Head Start (OHS) under the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Services. Their Baker facility is currently projecting an enrollment of up to 20 children, ages three to five. Head Start programs provide free learning and development services to children ages 3 to 5 in qualifying low-income families, who must apply to enroll their children.
EMEDA’s facility will also have a projected opening enrollment of up to 20 children, the ages and enrollment process yet to be determined.
EMEDA and Head Start will share a property with two buildings on EMEDA-owned land at the intersection of 7th Street East and Texas Avenue in Baker, between 7th Avenue and Keirle Road near Iron Horse Park. The land was donated to EMEDA by Marty Nelson in November of 2022 to support childcare.
The two buildings to be used for the facilities are currently in the process of being designed and built. EMEDA and Head Start will run their respective facilities independently of one another.
One concern which has been brought to the EMEDA’s attention in regards to establishing a licensed childcare facility in Baker is that of filling employment for the facilities.
“People have expressed interest in the potential positions,” EMEDA Chairman Zachmann said in response to those concerns. “People will move for a place for their kids and for a job, and we are examining the fine line of making sure childcare costs remain relatively low while also establishing an attractive job.”
According to Zenko, the future facilities will not only create jobs within themselves, but could also open the opportunity for others to return to the workforce.
“With available childcare that could be added to an employee benefits package through scholarships and reserved slots, local businesses could more easily recruit and retain employees. According to childcare.gov, nationally, 92% percent of families cite available childcare in their decision to relocate to a city for work,” Zenko explained. He continued that the Fallon County Childcare Facility would create full and part-time jobs in Fallon County, in addition to the potential of some parents returning to the workforce in other fields.
The Head Start facility has a projected start of August 26th in Baker, with new staff potentially beginning one to two weeks prior for required training. EMEDA hopes to have their facility open around the same time.
We will continue to follow this process, and will have further details as the plan progresses.