March carries with it the promise of spring—and the reminder that new beginnings are always within reach.
If your winter has been long and challenging, here’s an official reminder that March asks us to believe that change remains possible. Renewed hope doesn’t require us to ignore challenges. Instead, it reminds us to steady our belief in what’s possible.
Even as the child care field continues to navigate real challenges, there are meaningful reasons for hope across the child care landscape. In Vermont, for example, a historic investment in child care is already showing what’s possible when policymakers, employers, and communities come together to strengthen systems families and businesses depend on.
We’re also seeing employers step up in new ways. Companies like DigiKey are demonstrating that child care is not just a family issue—it’s essential workforce infrastructure.
Progress rarely moves in a straight line—but moments like these remind us that momentum is building.
Here’s to fresh starts and resilient growth. Here’s to a season of renewed hope.
Heidi Hagel Braid
President and CEO
Recent News
DigiKey Helps MN Community – and Its Workforce – Find Child Care Solutions
Sitting less than 100 miles from the Canadian border, the people and businesses of Thief River Falls, MN, know that they often need to solve problems for themselves.
Act 76 Creates a Brighter Future for Child Care in Vermont
In 2023, just months after First Children’s Finance established its Vermont office, Vermont passed Act 76, which makes a significant investment in Vermont’s child care system by supporting providers and families.
Data to Decisions: Analyzing Vermont’s Child Care Supply-Demand Gap
Supply demand gap analyses are a critical tool for understanding the availability of child care relative to the needs of families and employers in a given community. At their core, these analyses estimate how many child care seats are available, how many children are likely to need care, and where gaps exist.
Loan Fund Client, Child Care Center Owner Overcomes Challenges to ‘Love on the Kids’
All child care providers face challenges as part of business, but how many can be successful after having major health issues that kept them out for three months or more?
Investing in the Leaders Who Power Vermont’s Child Care System
Early childhood educators aren’t just caring for children. They’re building small businesses, leading teams, and creating essential community infrastructure.
FCF IA Director Retires After 17 Years of Service
How do you measure success after 17 years of helping to build and sustain Iowa's child care businesses and systems?
For FCF Iowa Director, Heidi Schlueter, the answer has always centered on collaboration, teamwork, and a commitment to the mission.
"It has been deeply meaningful to contribute to this work and to collaborate with such dedicated colleagues in supporting the growth and resilience of the child care businesses and the communities we serve," Schlueter said in an email to FCF staff.
Schlueter, the longest-serving current FCF employee, retired on March 6.
FCF President and CEO Heidi Hagel-Braid praised Heidi Schlueter's commitment to child care over her career.
"Heidi has been part of FCF’s journey through significant growth and evolution, and her steady commitment to our mission, advancing the stability and long-term viability of child care in communities across Iowa, has helped shape who we are today," said Hagel-Braid.
"Through her thoughtful leadership and dedication to her team, she has strengthened our work and supported the growth of those around her. She will be deeply missed by colleagues, partners, and the child care businesses we serve."
After serving as a Head Start Director in Iowa, Heidi joined FCF in 2008, when the organization consisted of only 12 people. Schlueter’s work has helped hundreds of communities and child care businesses across Iowa find ways to be more sustainable and to deliver excellent care to children and families.
“Over the past 17 years, I have been proud of the important ways that FCF has carried out its mission — always focusing on supply and sustainability of child care — work that is needed now more than ever."
“I am especially proud of the Iowa team and the strong work we have done and the reputation we’ve built for high-quality services statewide.”
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, Heidi! FCF and the Iowa child care community will miss you.
FCF Iowa Presented with 'Partner of the Year' Award
In January, the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation presented First Children's Finance with the Partner of the Year award during its 15th Annual Business Recognition Luncheon in Spencer.
First Children's Finance was selected to support child care efforts in the region, particularly a child care study in the Spencer Community in 2025, which included a Market Analysis, Strategic Plan, and Financial Modeling.
The project was supported by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC), and the Iowa Area Development Group (IADG). The Market Analysis showed a shortage of over 700 child care slots.
A similar study was done in the Storm Lake Community in 2024, and the City of Lake Park recently received a grant to conduct a study in 2026. First Children's Finance has worked with all these communities to identify the needs and possible solutions to the region's child care shortages.
“On behalf of the Iowa FCF Team, we are so honored to receive this award," said FCF Iowa Director Heidi Schlueter. "We know our mission of growing sustainable child care could not happen without these partnerships across Iowa.”
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is the regional economic development champion for Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet counties.
Upcoming FCF Trainings
FCF in the News
- Rural Counties Have Options to Bring Child Care to Their Communities | National Association of Counties
- Stability Starts with Child Care | Albert Lea (MN) Tribune
- As Child Care Growth Gains Momentum across Vermont, Some Regions Lag Behind - VTDigger
- New Data Shows Vermont Closing the Child Care Gap, Infant Care Still Lags | Vermont Business Magazine