A community that has long been without a local childcare option is preparing to welcome a new childcare center, creating a new opportunity for families in Chase and surrounding communities.
The public is invited to celebrate the opening of Little Kats Childcare, operated by the Chase/Raymond School District, with a ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at 312 Ash St. in Chase.
Located in Chase near the Rice County-Barton County area, Little Kats is an opportunity for families throughout the surrounding region to learn more about a new local childcare option. Families who are currently looking for childcare are encouraged to reach out and get on the enrollment list now.
Little Kats will serve children of all ages, with capacity for up to 24 children. The center is designed to provide families with a local option for childcare while also supporting the needs of working families and the broader community.
Chase has been identified as a childcare desert, with no childcare currently available within the community. The opening of Little Kats represents an important step toward addressing that gap and providing families with access to care closer to home.
The project was made possible through Child Care Zones funding, a childcare grant from the Patterson Family Foundation and the work and investment of local partners, including the Chase/Raymond School District.
The opening is also part of a larger effort taking place across Rice County and surrounding communities to address childcare as a critical family, workforce and economic development issue.
Over the past several years, Rice County has worked with schools, childcare providers, community organizations, funders, employers and local leaders to move beyond simply identifying the childcare shortage and begin developing long-term solutions. Those efforts have included supporting existing childcare providers, pursuing outside funding, strengthening the local childcare workforce, creating resources for early educators and working with communities and schools to explore new childcare opportunities.
“This is what happens when a community comes together around a problem and decides to work toward a solution,” said Taryn Daniels, Director of Economic Development for Rice County. “Little Kats is a great example of what can happen when schools, funders, community partners and local leaders are willing to listen to what families need and work together to create a solution. We still have work to do, but opening a childcare center in a community that previously had none is something worth celebrating.”
Childcare Business Engagement Coordinator Tabitha McLemore also recognized the leadership of Chase/Raymond Superintendent Dr. Kylee McDonald and the school district in bringing the project to reality.
“Dr. McDonald saw the vision for what Little Kats could mean for Chase and was willing to take the steps necessary to make it happen,” McLemore said. “Her commitment to making the community better and her willingness to listen to local needs and find solutions that truly serve families is something we deeply appreciate. This is a wonderful example of local leadership, seeing a need, believing in what is possible and doing the work to bring it to life.”
McLemore added that the center represents an investment not only in children and families, but in the future of the community.
“We are incredibly grateful to Kylee and the Chase/Raymond School District for recognizing that childcare is an important part of a strong, thriving community and for investing in the future of Chase,” she said.
The Sept. 21 ribbon cutting will provide an opportunity for families, childcare providers, educators, businesses, community members and regional partners to celebrate the opening and learn more about Little Kats.
Families in Chase and surrounding communities who are in need of childcare are encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting and learn more about availability. Children of all ages are eligible for care, and families can currently get on the enrollment list.
The community is invited to attend the ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at Little Kats Childcare, 312 Ash St., Chase.
The opening of Little Kats serves as a reminder that meaningful community change happens when people identify a need, bring the right people to the table, find resources and continue working together until a solution becomes reality.
For Chase and the surrounding region, Little Kats represents a new childcare opportunity for families — and another step toward building communities where children, families, businesses and communities can thrive.