Mapleton, Minnesota Celebrates its Inaugural Child Care House
This month marks an exciting milestone as Mapleton, Minnesota celebrates the Grand Opening of the inaugural Child Care House, a landmark project developed and delivered by Business of Child Care. The effort brings to life a shared vision for accessible, high-quality child care that supports families, strengthens the workforce, and builds long-term community capacity.
Led by Business of Child Care and powered by the commitment of local partners, the Mapleton project demonstrates what is possible when vision, collaboration, and practical solutions come together. The new facility will open later this fall as Tiny Roots Childcare, operated by local provider Brooke Garvey, who will offer licensed care for families throughout the Maple River area.
The local Grand Opening and Community Open House will take place in November, welcoming project funders, partners, and everyone who helped bring this vision to life. A formal event in early December will follow, featuring presentations that explore the economic development connections and measurable community outcomes created through child care and early education investment.
Read more on Mapleton’s project here.
Langlade County, Wisconsin — Strengthening Existing Child Care Programs
Meanwhile, in Langlade County, Wisconsin, there’s movement to reinforce the stability of already‐existing child care centers. Through the initiative sponsored by the Langlade County Economic Development Corporation and the Dream Up! Child Care Taskforce, three centers took part in the “Child Care Center Stability and Growth (CCCSG)” program offered by Business of Child Care.
The program provided practical tools, structured guidance, and business support to help improve operations, retain staff, and plan for sustainable long-term growth. It stands as a strong example of how community leadership and economic development can converge to underpin child care infrastructure from within.
For logical next-steps, they offer a free guide to help civic and community leaders identify early signs of program distress, engage providers respectfully, and mobilize local support to prevent permanent loss of care. Read the full story here.
New Child Care House Efforts Underway in Minnesota
In addition to Mapleton, two other Minnesota communities are moving into the Child Care House pathway:
- Long Prairie, Minnesota has completed Phase One Foundations and is progressing through follow-up sessions to ready their Child Care House plan.
- Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, a smaller rural community in Brown County with strong local values and agricultural roots, is kicking off Phase One of their Child Care House project.
These efforts underscore that the model is designed to help communities move from concept through to completion via a four-phase pathway—concept to activation—with support from Business of Child Care.
A View from the Start-Up Advisor
Barbara Wagner, Start-Up Advisor at Business of Child Care, provides a behind-the-scenes perspective on the Mapleton project. She highlights how early conversations, teamwork, and determination combined to make this milestone happen—and what can happen when a community truly believes in its capacity to create lasting change. Read the full story on LinkedIn.
Our 2026 Child Care House Schedule is Filling!
If your community is exploring a physical infrastructure investment to expand or strengthen child care, now is the time to learn more. Download our Community Briefing for Child Care House to discover our four-phase pathway that helps communities move from concept to completion—without carrying the burden alone.
