Tag Archives: Childcare

A new daycare facility called Crossroads Academy set to open this July to combat the lack of daycare options for Crossville’s school-aged children. Co-Owner Laura Brock is a retired teacher. She said she has seen parents struggle for years to care for their children in the hours immediately after school. Brock said the facility will be available for children from ... Read More »

The Upper Cumberland Development District has promoted Rosa Smith to Assistant Director of Economic Development. Smith originally joined the UCDD as an Economic Development Planner focused on addressing the Upper Cumberland’s childcare shortage. She has focused on spreading awareness about childcare challenges in the region. Smith has also sought to find ways to make childcare more accessible and affordable. “The ... Read More »

UCHRA eager to see how a new state grant opportunity to will play out in terms of addressing needs for childcare facilities. The Community Child Care Hub Pilot Grant will make available up to $5 million to help develop and establish locally managed childcare administrative hubs that will support networks of newly licensed childcare locations. Executive Director Mark Farley said ... Read More »

Another signal of the lack of childcare in Putnam County: the most recent state child well-being report, where Putnam ranked 85th in childcare cost burden. UCDD/UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said the two biggest issues are affordability and capacity. He said that stems from the difficulty of opening a daycare facility in general. “Work with our state partners the various ... Read More »

UCDD wants the state to make a one million dollar childcare grant program into a reoccurring opportunity. The state funding was used for nine projects that created some 300 additional childcare spots in the Upper Cumberland. Executive Director Mark Farley said the development district wants to get more operations licensed by state. “We have a lot of small operations where ... Read More »

One local childcare facility says parents are putting their child on the waitlist as soon as they find out they’re pregnant. Danielle Preston is the Co-Director of Little Sprouts Mother’s Day Out in Cookeville. She said the long waitlist is in response to working parents struggling to find childcare facilities. A recent state report revealed that more than 80 percent ... Read More »

Three hundred childcare slots and over 50 jobs will open thanks to a state grant program benefiting seven Upper Cumberland counties. Lending and Economic Development Director Megan Choate said the additional childcare space comes from nine projects that received state funding. “This is the first year that they have allowed a change in their community development block grant funds to ... Read More »

The only childcare licensed by The Department of Human Services in Pickett County has openings available. Head Start Director Penny Meadows said the program is for the most in-need Pickett County families. Meadows said everything is free, with acceptance being based on a point system ranking the child’s needs. “Especially in these rural areas, we may be the biggest thing ... Read More »

The Putnam County School System is looking for SAC Activity Instructor candidates to help with kids during the summer. School Age Care Program Coordinator Krista Hamilton said many kids need this care while their parents work during school vacation. Hamilton said that candidates will oversee crafts, games and more over each week of the summer. “Anyone that enjoys being around ... Read More »