Minnesota

FCF helps Minnesota child care businesses and communities build stronger, more sustainable child care. Find the support that fits your needs.

How We Help Businesses

How We Help Communities

Featured Programs

Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP)

RCCIP brings rural communities together to address child care shortages through an economic development lens. FCF helps local leaders understand their child care gaps, mobilize community partners, and develop right-sized solutions through research, financial modeling, and a Community Solution Action Plan.

31 communities. 1001 new child care slots. 1149 community participants.

MN RCCIP Communities New Ulm Success Story Video

12,019


Child care slots created or preserved

1,796


Child care jobs created or preserved

864


Participants in business training and cohorts

School house

$17M


Grant dollars awarded to Minnesota child care businesses

Community Conversations for Early Childhood Entrepreneurs

Community Conversations is a peer networking and resource program for entrepreneurs of color who own—or want to start—a child care business. Over nine sessions, participants connect with peers and BIPOC community leaders while addressing business and financial barriers, access to capital, wealth-building, facilities and housing, and the impacts of historical and racial trauma.

Each participant works with an FCF consultant to develop a Financial Action Plan tailored to their child care business or program, with the opportunity to apply for forgivable financing to help put that plan into action.

Contact us to learn more

Insights & Resources

We conduct and share research, community analyses, studies, and real-world experience to help communities and systems understand what Minnesota child care businesses are facing and what they need to remain sustainable.

Meet the Minnesota Team

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Suzanne Pearl

Minnesota Director

Suzanne Pearl serves as Minnesota Director at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 223-7215
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Crystal Ballard

Program Specialist

Crystal Ballard serves as Program Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (651) 309-4188
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Jessica Beyer

Associate Minnesota Director

Jessica Beyer serves as Associate Minnesota Director at First Children's Finance.

ph. (320) 288-2652
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Candace Cegla

Business Development Manager

Candace Cegla serves as Business Development Manager at First Children's Finance.

ph. (320) 288-2698
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Pam Chapman

Grants Manager

Pam Chapman serves as Grants Manager at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 439-1923
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Tiffany Grant

Business Development Manager

Tiffany Grant serves as Business Development Manager at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 279-6503
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Michele Hutchinson

Senior Business Development Specialist

Michele Hutchinson serves as Senior Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (218) 288-2601
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Shelly Kunz

Business Development Specialist

Shelly Kunz serves as Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (507) 218-2265
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Julie Lindgren

Business Development Specialist

Julie Lindgren serves as Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (218) 288-2623
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Trisha Lien

Business Development Manager

Trisha Lien serves as Business Development Manager at First Children's Finance.

ph. (320) 288-2775
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Destiny Oberg

Business Development Specialist

Destiny Oberg serves as Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 439-9771
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Gina Porter

Senior Grants Specialist

Gina Porter serves as Senior Grants Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 444-7144
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Marilu Plamann

Business Development Specialist-Bilingual (Spanish)

Marilu Plamann serves as Business Development Specialist-Bilingual (Spanish) at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 504-7518
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Stephanie Sanvig

Senior Business Development Specialist

Stephanie Sanvig serves as Senior Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 473-4542
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Maura Trout

Program Specialist

Maura Trout serves as Program Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 429-0847
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Patricia Welsch

Business Development Specialist

Patricia Welsch serves as Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 223-7207
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Kale Weber

Business Development Specialist

Kale Weber serves as Business Development Specialist at First Children's Finance.

ph. (612) 294-0054

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