Hormel Foods to Develop Child Care Center as Result of FCF’s Rural Programs

As a result of the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP), Hormel Foods has started designing a new community child care center utilizing research and community planning processes lead by First Children’s Finance. Austin, Minnesota, is experiencing a shortage of approximately 531 full-time child care slots, impacting families’ abilities to live and work in southeastern Minnesota.

The RCCIP uses a community engagement process designed to develop right-sized solutions to increase the supply of high-quality affordable child care in rural communities. “Austin’s RCCIP action plan clearly outlined the need for employer engagement solutions, and we are pleased to see the entire community benefit from Homel’s investments and commitment to their rural community,” said Suzanne Pearl, Director of FCF-Minnesota.

By actively investing into the local community, Hormel Foods increases the retention of talent in their company and the entire economic region. Hormel aims to help fill the slots of needed child care with the new 13,000 square feet facility, with construction of the facility being completed in 2024.

Read more about it on the ABC 6 News website or in this Axios article.