Dakota News Now

By Grant Green

LUVERNE, M.N. (Dakota News Now) - On Wednesday, Luverne community members gathered for a tour and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Kids Rock! Child Care Center.

The center is the result of years of work, in part thanks to Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, who helped secure $2.6 million in Congressionally Directed Spending.

According to Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian, it’s already bringing some families back to the area.

Twenty families have found their way back to Southwest Minnesota to take advantage of the now 186 spots available, thanks to the Kids Rock! Child Care Center.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar said the return of families was inevitable.

“You cannot do that without housing and childcare, especially in rural America, so our three focuses should be bringing costs down, having the childcare and having housing, if we do that for workers, they’re like I’m in,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) Minnesota, said.

Kids Rock will provide plenty of help for those in the Luverne area, but nationwide costs remain a troubling issue, rising over 200 percent in the last three decades.

Senator Tina Smith said families shouldn’t have to pay more than 7% of their income on child care.

“We don’t expect families to pay for 100% of kindergarten, third grade or sixth grade, so I’ve supported legislation to buy down the cost of child care so families can afford it more,” Smith said.

The new center can truly be described as a team effort with $6 million invested from the City of Luverne, Rock County, the local community, and a Federal USDA grant.

The childcare center will be open starting June 2.