By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Stafford County Economic Development saw a need for childcare in the county and did something about it. In August 2023, the first of two daycares was opened at a new modular facility in St. John. A new goal is to increase childcare access in Stafford and Macksville. On Monday, Gov. Laura Kelly's office announced that Stafford County Eco Devo was one of 14 recipients of a Rural Champions grant. Eco Devo Director Ryan Russell said the grant will provide nearly $46,000 to increase childcare access.
"We have a childcare committee that's county-wide, and we're actively looking for solutions to solve some childcare issues," he said. "It's hard sometimes and the solutions are not easy. They take time. We have to have a building, we have to find somebody who wants to do the childcare and be a licensed provider. We have to get support from the community to do it. We have limited time and limited resources. It's a lot of work to try to get something going."
The Rural Champions program provides a one-year wage stipend of $20,800 to tackle an area of concern in communities. Stafford County Eco Devo Office Administrator Sarah Hampton will now spend 20 hours a week searching for childcare solutions in Macksville and Stafford. At the end of the year, the Rural Champions program will provide up to $25,000 to communities to implement their projects.
“Since day one, my administration has been focused on the needs of our rural communities and the quality of life in every region of the state,” Gov. Kelly said via a press release. “Creating the Office of Rural Prosperity was only the beginning of our support for rural Kansans and their needs. By developing the Rural Champions program, we are assisting communities to find local solutions to specific local challenges.”