Luverne, Minnesota, has been recognized for turning a community challenge into an opportunity for growth. Kids Rock! Child Care Center recently earned the 2026 Innovation Award from the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM), honoring the city’s creative and collaborative approach to addressing one of the most pressing issues, access to reliable child care.
Just a few years ago, Rock County faced a severe child care shortage. The number of licensed in-home providers had dropped from 56 to just 30, leaving a gap of approximately 120 child care slots. With no commercial child care centers operating in the county, working families struggled to find dependable care and local businesses increasingly felt the impact as employee recruitment and retention became
more difficult.
To address it, the City of Luverne brought together community leaders, county officials, school representatives, local businesses, child care providers and residents to discuss possible solutions. According to Holly Sammons, Luverne economic development director, those conversations led to the formation of a local task force and, ultimately, the creation of Kids Rock! Child Care Center.
Luverne played a central role in making the project possible having purchased a vacant 31,000-square-foot office building for $515,000 and committing $4.2 million toward renovations. “City leaders and the Luverne Economic Development Authority also secured additional funding through a $2.6 million United States Department of Agriculture grant and $250,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development,” Sammons said. The project was further strengthened by strong community support, including more than $1 million raised locally.
Today, Kids Rock! operates as a nonprofit child care center serving infants through school-age children and providing space for up to 186 children. Luverne continues to support the center by maintaining ownership of the building and leasing it to the nonprofit for $1 per year, along with providing in-kind services such as utilities, maintenance, lawn care and snow removal.
The impact is measurable. According to a recent Family Impact Survey, 89% of parents report reduced stress related to child care, and 81% say they now have more reliable and consistent care. And for local businesses? Thirty-seven percent of surveyed families said the availability of child care influenced their decision to accept or remain in a job in Luverne.
Kids Rock! has also created 27 new jobs, further strengthening the community’s workforce and local economy. By treating child care as essential infrastructure, Luverne has created a model that demonstrates how rural communities can solve workforce challenges in innovative ways.