The Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation (NCAEDC) team is putting families first, utilizing their resources to secure $605,000 in grant funding to be used towards increasing quality and capacity of licensed childcare in Otoe County.

NCAEDC’s Early Childhood Community Coordinator (ECCC), Tiffany Walker, worked with Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Nebraska DHHS and Otoe County to provide valuable resources for 27 local licensed and unlicensed childcare providers. Resources included funding for required trainings for all providers, safety and accessibility modifications to their premises and equipment, furnishings, and educational play equipment. In addition, the ECCC assists with matching child care openings with families in need in real time.

As a result of these efforts, three in-home providers have been licensed, and one childcare center has opened. By the end of the year, NCAEDC will open an additional childcare center and four to five in-home providers. In total, these efforts will result in approximately 180 additional children attending licensed care in Otoe County.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is proud to belong to an 8-county partnership, including Otoe County, to promote growth and economic development across county and state lines. You can learn more about Otoe County here: https://www.omahachamber.org/economic-development/nebraska-city-area-economic-development-corporation/.