Brainerd council approves child care incentive policy

BRAINERD — Those looking to provide child care services in Brainerd now have an incentive from the city to do so.

Brainerd City Council members approved an incentive policy during their meeting on Monday, Sept. 15, that will lower construction and permit fees for child care facilities.

City staff and two Economic Development Authority members toured Brainerd child care facilities earlier this year to learn what’s going well and what issues providers face.

Common issues they heard included:

Staffing (turnover, burnout, wages, lost to government-funded child care centers).

State permitting and licensing requirements.

Capital for additions and new facilities.

Cashflow challenges with balancing wage increases and affordable tuition.

Difficulty finding space for rent that meets licensin