SILVER BAY, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Around the country, families are struggling with childcare.

Especially rural communities where the challenges are not only about keeping prices down for the families, but keeping the centers staffed properly.

On Thursday, at Silver Bay High School, a roundtable discussion was held surrounding the topic of childcare.

But first, city and state leaders toured the Little Mariners Childcare Center (LMCC) facility in Silver Bay, which isn’t at full capacity due to the inability to attract staff.

“Employment challenges have been a problem since we opened,” said Kerissa Bailey, the childcare coordinator. “They are continually a challenge. We can’t increase our pay rates enough to entice anyone to come work with us.”

Bailey started the center in 2021 and

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