Clay County Early Childhood Fund

Clay County Early Childhood Fund's Mission: To increase access to child care and retain current providers across Clay County.

Clay County, home to the vibrant city of Moorhead and its surrounding communities, faces a shortage of over 1,300 child care spots. In response, the Clay County Early Childhood Fund was established in November 2024. Since then, we’ve completed two grant cycles, supporting both child care centers and home-based providers with essential safety upgrades. We’ve also helped a new start-up center cross the final licensing hurdle to open its doors.

Your investment in the Clay County Early Childhood Fund directly supports:

• Mini-grants for new child care facility start-ups
• Grants for facility updates for existing providers
• Training and professional development for providers and staff
• Appreciation events recognizing the dedication of child care professionals
• Community engagement events to connect families and providers
• Expanded access to mental health and behavioral support for children and providers

Child care accessibility is a workforce issue that affects every corner of our community. To reduce the shortage, we must strengthen the support systems for those already in the field—and those eager to join it.

The Clay County Early Childhood Fund is managed through West Central Initiative but created by and guided by a Clay County-based advisory board made up of local experts who understand the challenges facing child care centers, providers, and families with children ages 0–5.

Every dollar you give helps meet a critical need in our communities. Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a lasting impact.

For more information please visit: Clay County Early Childhood Fund - wcif.org