EXCERPT: “Six Greater Minnesota regional development groups are set to receive more than $1 million in state grants aimed at growing access to child care. The Minnesota Department of Human Services on Thursday, Jan. 17, announced that it would give state and private grant dollars totaling $1.5 million to local organizations in Little Falls, Duluth, Bemidji, Owatonna, Hutchinson and Fergus Falls. Those areas are some of those experiencing the most critical shortages in child care services. Department officials said the state is experiencing a decline in the number of licensed family child providers and since 2012, there has been an 18-percent net decrease in providers.” FULLSTORY: http://bit.ly/2VZLryG
