RICE COUNTY, Kan. — The Rice County Community Foundation, on behalf of the Rice County Early Childhood Coalition (RCECC), has been awarded a $30,000 grant from Child Care Aware of Kansas. This generous funding will support efforts to address the growing need for accessible, quality childcare in the region.
The Rice County Early Childhood Coalition was formed to tackle the critical shortage of childcare options available to local families and ensure that children have the resources they need to thrive. Through this grant, the Coalition will host three separate community events designed to engage different sectors of the community: business/industry, education and health, and general community members.
The events, scheduled between February and April 2025, will take place in Sterling, Lyons, and Little River. Each event will focus on educating participants about the current childcare landscape in Rice County and encourage further involvement from local stakeholders in building the childcare capacity in the region.
“We are incredibly grateful and excited for this funding and partnership with RCECC to bring together community leaders, educators, healthcare providers, and business owners to collaborate on solutions to our childcare challenges,” said Joy McBee, Executive Director of the Rice County Community Foundation.
“These events will be an important step in not only identifying the challenges we face but also exploring innovative ways to improve access to quality care for our children,” added Kelly McClure, Coalition Lead.
The goal of these community events is to foster meaningful conversations that will generate new partnerships and resources to strengthen childcare infrastructure in Rice County. With the growing demand for childcare services, the Coalition’s initiatives aim to create a sustainable, community-driven approach that meets the needs of families and supports the region’s workforce.
Here is a list of the upcoming informative events:
- Sterling: Business/Industry, February 13th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at Studio 96
- Lyons: Education/Healthcare, March 10th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at Celebration Center Zwick East
- Little River: Community members, April 9th, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at MTC