2023 — Q4 Update on Childcare Challenges and CollaborationsCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 07.
Copyrighted
November 6, 2023
ITEM TITLE: 2023 — Q4 Update on Childcare Challenges and Collaborations
SUMMARY: City Manager sharing a quarterly update on the status of collaboration
efforts among partners in Dubuque to address a need for sufficient
quality, affordable childcare options in the community.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
THE C
DUjIBQTE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2023 — Q4 Update on Childcare Challenges and Collaborations
DATE: November 2, 2023
Dubuque
WAWca 914
ii
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Economic Development Director Jill Connors is sharing a quarterly update on the status
of collaboration efforts among partners in Dubuque to address a need for sufficient
quality, affordable childcare options in the community.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
All -America My
nni K xvni , nz: a:u�ir,
DUB E
2007-2012.2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jill M. Connors, Economic Development Director
Economic Development
Department
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4763
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
SUBJECT: 2023 — Q4 Update on Childcare Challenges and Collaborations
DATE: November 2, 2023
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides a quarterly update on the status of collaboration efforts
among partners in Dubuque to address a need for sufficient quality, affordable childcare
options in the community.
BACKGROUND
Through the work of multiple partners over several years, the lack of access to quality,
affordable childcare has been identified as a barrier to employment and economic
prosperity in Dubuque.
In FY2019 the City Council committed $80,000 to Greater Dubuque Development to
support a pilot program developed to provide free childcare to Opportunity Dubuque
students and graduates at Northeast Iowa Community College. Then in FY2020 a small
group including City staff, as well as staff from Greater Dubuque Development, Northeast
Iowa Community College, and the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque,
participated in a National League of Cities program (Cities of Opportunity), using that
opportunity to discuss our local childcare challenges. The program is designed to provide
a framework for how to address community -wide issues in order to achieve desired
outcomes.
During its annual goal setting, the Dubuque City Council identified "Childcare Initiative"
as a 2021-2023 High Priority. And its 2022-2024 priorities include implementation of the
Poverty Prevention and Reduction Plan, which calls for an Early Learning & Childcare
task force to address childcare deserts and the childcare worker shortage.
DISCUSSION
Stemming from and in tandem with the work with the National League of Cities, the small
group began to have a larger conversation with additional organizations suited to address
childcare issues. This local coalition is collaborating to address current challenges and
to identify next steps in this work for a community -wide approach to providing sufficient
affordable, quality childcare in Dubuque to support families, employers, workforce, and
childcare providers.
Our local coalition is comprised of the following partners:
• City of Dubuque
• Childcare Resource & Referral
• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
• Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
• Dubuque Community School District
• Dubuque Community Y
• Dubuque County Early Childhood
• Dubuque Initiatives
• Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
• Northeast Iowa Community College
• St. Mark Youth Enrichment
RECENT WORK
Several of the partners, in particular Dubuque Initiatives and the Greater Dubuque
Development Corporation, have been working to secure one-time Department of Health
and Human Services funding for childcare worker wage enhancement (50% private
employer/50% state). The program would allow for wage increases for childcare
providers during the timeframe of the grant. Sufficient wages and benefits can help to
attract and retain a childcare workforce.
For this program, getting a qualifying application in and accepted has been challenging
due to the tight timeline for application. To that end, in order to show the local employer
match in time, Greater Dubuque Development has committed a $280,000 match with the
intent to raise this much from the employers parting in the new center.
The current concept would provide wage enhancement funds to childcare providers to
allow them to increase initial wages to attract their needed workforce. In theory, it would
be sustainable in the sense that providers would use the funds to increase initial wages
to the level of their more seasoned/trained personnel. The new hires simply get to that
higher wage more quickly. We would initially limit the support to licensed centers that
accept clients using Childcare Assistance dollars.
2
Although this is one-time money, it could be a viable short-term option while continuing
to search for longer term solutions.
Dubuque Initiatives has also spearheaded the creation of a new childcare facility by
purchasing and funding the buildout of 7900 Chavenelle Road. The Dubuque Community
School District, Dubuque Community Y, Dubuque County, and the City of Dubuque have
all committed to become tenants of portions of the building.
BENEFITS OF OUR COLLABORATION
We have found our monthly meetings helpful for hearing from our partners in the field
about new developments, and for having a forum for elevating new challenges and
opportunities that we identify during the course of our work.
RECOMMENDATION/ ACTION STEP
This memo is for informational purposes, and I respectfully request the City Council
continues to recognize and prioritize childcare as a community need in the coming years.
3