Energy co-op child care center to open in North Dakota’s Mercer County

By Lisa Gibson

HAZEN, N.D. — A child care center spearheaded by Basin Electric Power Cooperative is set to open by early May, filling a need in North Dakota’s Mercer County that was first identified in a 2015 economic development study. Energy Capital Cooperative Child Care will combine eight partners to provide care for 60 children ranging in age from infants to 12.

The 2015 study revealed a 291-spot deficiency in child care availability in Mercer County, says Erin Huntimer, project coordinator for Basin and board president for ECCCC. Child care was identified as the No. 1 concern in follow-up studies as well, prompting Basin to survey its own Mercer County employees in November 2015. The results showed the lack of available care affected jobs, Huntimer says.

“Basin Electric took the initiative to address the child care issue because it has a direct impact to our employees and our ability to recruit and retain them,” she says. “We’ve experienced significant turnover from retirements over the past several years. Recruiting new employees to fill these positions becomes difficult when child care doesn’t exist for their families. For our existing employees, the situation has become so challenging that one family described their weekly routine as ‘jumping through flaming hoops’ to find care for their two children. In some situations, we face losing employees who may have to quit because they cannot find reliable care for their children.

“I personally feel electric co-ops are uniquely equipped to find a solution to this challenge,” Huntimer adds. “Our history is rooted in serving the underserved, in banding together for the sake of the greater good. One of our seven cooperative principles is ‘Commitment to Community,’ because if the community thrives, so does the co-op.”

ECCCC recently purchased the New Bethel Congregational Church in Hazen, North Dakota, to house the day care center and hired Dana Santini as program director. Santini has more than 20 years of child care experience, including teaching preschool, directing a large day care center and owning and operating a licensed day care center in her home, according to Basin. Applications are being accepted for supervisor and aide positions.

The day care center will be open to the public, but many spots are reserved for children of employees working at companies that helped found the organization, Huntimer says.

“While we’re still refining our tuition schedule, we are aiming at market rates, though it’s difficult to say exactly what ‘market’ is in a county where no similar facilities exist,” Huntimer says. “We will be higher than in-home day care, but not unaffordable.”

Basin’s project partners are:

North American Coal Corp., Bismarck

Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen

Knife River Care Center, Beulah, North Dakota

Union State Bank, Hazen location

Otter Tail Power Co. Coyote Station, Beulah

Hazen Public Schools, Hazen

Coal Country Community Health Centers, Beulah and Center, North Dakota

“Though Basin Electric has led the effort, it would not be possible without the strong commitment of our seven partners who came to the table to discuss this concept with us back in May 2016,” Huntimer says. “They continue to not only guide the process and ask difficult questions, but also serve as shining examples of servant leaders. Everyone asks simply, ‘What can we do to make this happen?’ and no one is afraid to get their hands dirty.” PB

Lisa Gibson EDITOR, PRAIRIE BUSINESS

701.787.6753

LGIBSON@PRAIRIEBUSINESSMAGAZINE.COM