Over 1100 spots are needed to serve Duluth area children ranging from newborns to six-year-olds. That’s according to a new report released September 17 by the Duluth Mayor’s Child Care Task Force (CCTF).

The 15-person task force began it’s work in October 2023. Over the course of several months, it worked with local experts and stakeholders to develop a plan.

“One thing that becomes clear when you start digging into the childcare crisis and believe me, we are in crisis in Duluth. There are no fast or easy answers.” Says April Westman, owner of Aunty’s Child Care in Lakeside and one of the local experts consulted for the report.

“Even through a broken and unsustainable model child care has long survived due mainly to women doing invisible work for less money, less respect, and less trust than they deserve.” Westman said, explaining issues facing her and other providers.

 Rising overhead, lack of help, and other factors make the industry difficult. According to the report, four child care centers closed in Duluth in 2023, while only one opened. It’s a problem that still continues.

Westman explained the importance of quality care for children and highlighted it’s importance in early childhood development. She says simply opening more spots in facilities just isn’t a solution.

“We are not here to simply suggest we open more slots as we don’t want to just warehouse children until they are in kindergarten, but we are here to provide the very best nurturing that supports early learning for the whole child therefore the whole community.”

Community was touched on by Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Baumgartner. He framed the shortage as a broader economic issue, citing the impact of more parents leaving the workforce to care for children.

“I would say is it impacts the three core pillars of our strategic framework economic development business conditions and community progress. It impacts those immensely. I would say between housing and child care you’ve got a one and one a on what is impacting our community’s ability to embrace the economic opportunities that we have.” Baumgartner said.

He also touted the positives of more day care facilities, beyond just caring for kids; new employment opportunities, increasing the tax base, and allowing parents who wish to return to the work force to do so.

The report made several suggestions to combat the crisis, but focused on three key recommendations for the mayor: creating a marketing campaign to increase community support, funding and expanding a program that trains people interested in child care, and educating employers on how to support the child care needs of their workers.

“This is a must for our community if Duluth wants to embrace all of the opportunities that are right at our fingertips. We need to embrace child care. We need to find better ways to support it.” Said Baumgartner.