MANISTEE — It’s a move city leaders said could help address a growing daycare shortage impacting families and employers.
“There’s a lot of young mothers like myself only having a few people to call for babysitting and what have you,” said mom Jessica Sadler.
In a Manistee City Council meeting, leaders discussed reducing or waiving zoning or development fees that normally come with opening new daycares.
Manistee Early Childhood Center program director Nicole Anciso said the high cost of opening daycares can be a deterrent for a startup.
“I think that the startup costs and things like that can be kind of overwhelming or a turn off to people wanting to start one,” said Anciso. “Any help is going to get people in the door and get their business started and help alleviate some of the stress on families to find care. The more options the better, and it’s better for everybody, even the existing childcare centers.”
Making childcare facilities exempt from building inspection fees and business registration fees could also be on the table.
“You have to have environmental inspections. You have to have lead inspections and other stuff like that, and that all costs money,” said Anciso. “Sometimes when you’re starting a new business you don’t have a lot of money to put up front, if those things don’t get done, you can’t open.”
Anciso also said the lack of child care has ripple effects far beyond families.
“We have a lot of situations where when there’s no childcare, it makes it hard for parents to work,” said Anciso.
Discussions on increasing child care options in Manistee will continue in future city council meetings.