FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story County, Iowa — Ames Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) and United Way of Story County (UWSC) have released the results of the Story County Child Care Feasibility Study, offering a practical, evidence-based roadmap to improve child care access, affordability, and quality across the region.
The study assesses the local child care landscape and provides actionable strategies to strengthen workforce stability, expand provider capacity, and boost long-term economic vitality.
Pendulum Dependent Care Solutions, a national leader in child care strategic planning, conducted the three-phase study from November 2025 to June 2026. The research analyzed Story County’s current child care landscape, assessed local community needs, and outlined a coordinated path forward.
Three key strategic priorities emerged from the findings:
- Strengthening the workforce: Building pipeline partnerships, providing substitute staffing supports, and leveraging state wage enhancement programs.
- Expanding capacity: Growing existing child care programs and aligning expansions along key community corridors.
- Improving affordability and funding: Maximizing public and state programs, leveraging philanthropic support, and piloting tri-share and regional cost-sharing initiatives.
“Child care is a vital component of our economic ecosystem, and this study gives Story County an outstanding opportunity to redefine child care as essential infrastructure,” said Dan Culhane, president and CEO of AREA. “By strategically investing in our existing resources, we can expand services, strengthen the workforce, and position Story County as a leader in sustainable child care.”
The study represents a broad community collaboration. Partner organizations include AREA, UWSC, Iowa State University, the City of Ames, Story County, Story County Medical Center, and the Nevada Economic Development Council.
“The collaborative effort behind this study demonstrates our countywide commitment to making child care more affordable and accessible,” said Ashley Thompson, president and CEO of UWSC. “I look forward to deepening these partnerships as we explore innovative solutions for our community.”
Next steps include establishing a child care leadership collaborative, aligning funding strategies, and launching initial workforce stabilization and capacity-building initiatives.
To learn more about the report, visit amesalliance.com or uwstory.org.
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