Gratiot County is part of a childcare desert, according to a group who want to bring a new childcare facility to the region.
According to data from American Center for Progress, a left-leaning research and advocacy group, 46 percent of Michigan exists in a childcare desert - largely centered around rural areas.
Samantha Mitchell is with the Children’s Discovery Academy. She said the county has a major gap in services.
“When school is not in session in Gratiot county over four thousand children need care and there are only about one thousand slots that provide year-round care. That’s a huge discrepancy.”
Mitchell said the Discovery Academy is trying to locate a new center to serve the most people.
“We were looking mostly in Alma because it’s the working hub of Gratiot county. They have 15 out of the counties 20 largest employers. That would be the ideal place to set up the first center for the county.”
Mitchell said depending on the success of this childcare center they hope to build a second one. She says one center is not enough to meet the county’s needs.