Grant County Development Corporation

10/21/2026

Child care providers are small business owners. They handle licensing, safety rules, budgets and families, usually on very thin margins.
Bright Futures offers more than grants. Providers can also get free help with:
• Business and expansion planning
• Licensing, registration and safety planning
• Checking whether a project pencils out financially
• Tools, checklists and templates
You don't have to apply for a grant to get this help. Contact GCDC to get started. www.grantcountysd.com

10/19/2026

The most important rule for Bright Futures: get approved before you spend. Costs paid before written pre-approval can't be reimbursed.
Here's how it works:
1. Apply online at www.grantcountysd.com or on paper.
2. GCDC staff checks your application and can connect you with free business help if needed.
3. The Bright Futures Review Committee reviews it and makes a recommendation.
4. Once your award is approved, you get a written pre-approval letter with your project, budget and timeline.
5. Do the work and send in your receipts and proof of completion.
6. GCDC reimburses you.
Questions? Reach out to GCDC before you start. We're happy to help.

10/16/2026

In South Dakota, 81.6% of moms with kids under 6 are in the workforce. And 75% of young kids live in homes where every parent works. (Source: Child Care Gaps in 2025, South Dakota)
Infant and toddler care is the hardest to find. It takes more staff per child, so fewer providers offer it.
That's why Bright Futures gives priority to projects that add infant and toddler spots. If you could take more little ones with the right equipment or space, we want to hear from you. www.grantcountysd.com

10/15/2026

Thinking about starting a daycare in Grant County? Here’s a free place to start.

The Rural CO.STARTERS Online Bootcamp is a free, fully virtual program for aspiring entrepreneurs in rural South Dakota. It’s a great fit for anyone who has thought about opening an in-home daycare or childcare business.

In five sessions, you’ll work with experienced facilitators and other new business owners to:
✅ Shape your business idea
✅ Understand your customers (the families you’ll serve)
✅ Build a business model that works
✅ Get ready to launch

📅 Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Friday, Nov. 20
🕦 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. CST
💻 100% online
💲 Free (registration required)

👉 Register here: https://www.northernstartupcenter.com/upcoming-events/rural-costarters-nov2026

Then take the next step with Bright Futures. Once you’re ready to open, the Bright Futures Fund offers grants of up to $5,000 to help Grant County childcare providers with startup costs. Questions? Send us a message.

The bootcamp is hosted by Brookings Regional Growth Alliance, Dakota Resources, Dakota Wesleyan University, Glacial Lakes Area Development, Northern Innovation and Startup Center, Southern Hills Economic Development, Sturgis Economic Development Corp., Lake Francis Case Development Corp., and Startup Sioux Falls. Bright Futures is funded in part by the South Dakota Community Foundation.

10/14/2026

Bright Futures grants reimburse up to $5,000 per application for projects that help providers grow and improve:
• Startup and expansion costs that create new child care spots
• Learning materials, curriculum and quality improvements
• Safety upgrades and facility improvements required for compliance
• Equipment tied to an approved project
• Projects that add infant and toddler spots
Grants don't cover wages, rent, utilities, food or routine maintenance of homes.
Have a project in mind? Start your application at www.grantcountysd.com.

10/13/2026

A 6 a.m. shift. A daycare that opens at 7.

For many Grant County families, child care isn't just hard to find. It's hard to find care that fits their work schedule.

Vote YES on November 3 and Give the Kids a Penny.

Yard signs are available now. Message us if you'd like to show your support!

10/12/2026

Who can apply for a Bright Futures grant? More people than you might think:
• Licensed child care centers serving Grant County
• Licensed family and group daycares
• In-home providers who operate legally without a license (no state license or registration needed to apply)
• People with a real plan to open a child care business in Grant County
• Employers or community groups partnering to create child care spots, at the committee's discretion
If you care for kids, or you're thinking about it, this program is for you. www.grantcountysd.com

10/09/2026

Across South Dakota, an estimated 17,806 children who may need child care don't have access to it. That's about one in three kids who need care. (Source: Child Care Gaps in 2025, South Dakota)
Here in Grant County, we hear the same story from parents on waitlists and employers who lose good workers.
The Bright Futures Fund is one local answer. It helps providers open and add new spots, one home and one classroom at a time.
Know a provider, or someone thinking about becoming one? Share this post with them. www.grantcountysd.com

Graphic: large "17,806" with "SD children without access to care" and "Bright Futures: building capacity in Grant County."

10/08/2026

10/08/2026