Filling the executive director position meant Gold Creek could open its doors again, though they’re starting off small.
"Gold Creek Child Development Center"
Providers and lawmakers look for a way out of Alaska’s child care shortage
As Alaska’s child care industry deals with a labor shortage, advocates say it needs help from the state. Otherwise, workers will keep opting for jobs that pay better, provide benefits and have fewer unpaid training requirements than caregiving.
Juneau already had a child care shortage. Then two more centers closed
The Gold Creek Child Development Center and the Aurora Lights Childcare Center were two of only a handful of childcare centers in Juneau that accepted kids under 16 months old.
Millions of relief dollars are finally on the way for Alaska’s child care centers
The state of Alaska received nearly $100 million last year to support the ailing child care system, but by the end of the year, the state had distributed only about 5% of it.
Alaska scrambles to spend nearly $100M in federal child care relief as centers close
The state received about $95 million from the federal government this spring to address the child care crunch. So far, the state has written a grant program to distribute only $5 million of that statewide.
Without clear guidance, child care providers make tough choices on whether to close or stay open
A memo from the state of Alaska asks that child care facilities remain open if they can do so safely.
Juneau’s child care providers concerned by proposed licensing changes
Proposed regulations may make it harder for child care facilities statewide to do business. In Juneau, some daycare directors say the new rules would reduce capacity and worsen the shortage of affordable child care.
Juneau Assembly considers sales tax revenue for child care
Juneau’s shortage of affordable child care has led a group to urge the Assembly to use millions in sales tax revenue to expand services. The Juneau Assembly will weigh it and competing proposals at its July 12 finance meeting.