COTTAGE GROVE – Cottage Grove families are facing a critical childcare shortage. A local nonprofit organization is working to address these needs by distributing significant grants to support childcare establishments and fund programs for children.
The Woodard Family Foundation recently awarded two $30,000 grants in Cottage Grove, one to the First Presbyterian Church and one to Family Relief Nursery, to contribute to local childcare services.
The first $30,000 grant will support renovations for a 35-child daycare center at the First Presbyterian Church at 216 S. 3rd St. The new childcare center will operate in an upgraded church space and is set to open at the beginning of October, according to Wendy Kelsh from the First Presbyterian Church. It will provide care for 11 infants, 14 toddlers, and 10 preschoolers and will be operated by Tip Tap Grow.
“We anticipate that there will be many families interested in seeing whether Tip Tap Grow Cottage Grove is a good fit for their childcare needs, knowing that two out of three infants and toddlers cannot find childcare in Cottage Grove,” Kelsh said.
Tip Tap Grow, founded by Drea Smith, is a performing arts school based in Eugene and opened a year ago. According to Kelsh, the church and TTG first met in May of this year and realized their priorities and philosophies aligned. They will be the only licensed childcare provider for infants in Cottage Grove.
The church organized a Montessori Preschool in the 1980s and ’90s in the space that will occupy the new childcare center. The church also housed the first iteration of the Family Relief Nursery.
Lane County is considered a childcare desert. Cottage Grove has only three childcare providers, serving a total of 54 children. The Woodard Family Foundation grant will help address the shortage of providers by donating the final funds needed to complete renovations at the new childcare facility at the church.
“A functioning childcare center strengthens the entire economic ecosystem, enabling workforce participation and business growth,” said Casey Woodard, president of the Woodard Family Foundation.
According to recent data from Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care, all but two counties in Oregon remain “deserts” for infant and toddler care, and 25% of counties are childcare deserts for preschool age children.
A county is considered a childcare desert if fewer than 33% of children have access to a slot. In Lane County, only 29% of children ages 0-5 have access.
Without public slots, all counties would be a desert for infants and toddlers, and 28 out of Oregon’s 36 counties would be a desert for preschoolers.
One in every three children 5 and under have access to a regulated childcare slot statewide. Of the non-metropolitan counties, 32%-100% of slots are publicly funded compared to 16%-50% of slots publicly funded in non-desert metropolitan counties.
The second $30,000 grant will support the Therapeutic Early Childhood Program at the Cottage Grove Family Relief Nursery at 720 N. 14th St. According to Woodard, the program provides trauma-informed care for toddlers experiencing poverty, substance exposure, housing instability, and other adverse childhood experiences during critical brain development years.
“There is a tremendous need in our community for this type of support,” said Kyle Riege, executive director of FRN.
The specialized classroom serves 60 toddlers, with two qualified early-childhood educators and one aide for every eight children. According to Riege, most families have their children enrolled until they transition into Pre-K or kindergarten. Every program offered is entirely free to the families FRN serves.
“Unfortunately, we received significantly less state funding than anticipated for this biennium, which means we’ll need to increase our community fundraising efforts to keep our critical programs running at full capacity,” Riege said. “The support from the Woodard Family Foundation is a strong start; it helps ensure these essential services remain available to families in our community.”
All FRN classrooms are typically filled, and often with waitlists.
“We’re incredibly grateful that the Woodard Family Foundation stepped up to support us. Receiving this grant so early in the fiscal year gives us renewed hope that we can sustain and grow our programs,” Riege said. “As a community, we’ll all need to come together to ensure vital services aren’t lost and vulnerable families continue to receive the care they deserve. Casey Woodard and the Foundation’s board showed true leadership with this generous gift.”
The Woodard Family Foundation has been a crucial partner with FRN since the 1990s and contributed to the permanent facility that opened in 1997.
“Together, these grants represent a comprehensive approach to childcare needs — from prevention and therapeutic intervention for the most vulnerable families to expanded access for working parents throughout the community,” Woodard said in a statement.
