Paynesville is in the heart of Central Minnesota. A rural, vibrant, and growing community known for its strong schools, a robust business base, and excellent medical services. With its natural surroundings and recreational offerings, Paynesville is an ideal destination for a visit, vacation, and most importantly, to work and raise a family. According to the 2022 census, Paynesville had a population of 2,430 residents.

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Increasing populations have resulted in a greater demand for childcare. The difficulty of finding available and affordable child care has become an economic development issue throughout the area, affecting employment recruitment, business sustainability, economic growth, and school enrollment. If families cannot find viable child care in Paynesville, they may choose to live, work, and shop outside of the Paynesville area. A robust local economy typically enhances access to quality child care by making it more affordable for families. In turn, readily available, high-quality child care can greatly strengthen a local economy by encouraging more parents to enter the workforce, leading to increased productivity and business development. Essentially, a well-functioning child care system is vital for a flourishing local economy, as it enables parents to work consistently, thereby boosting overall economic activity.

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Through the Rural Child Care Innovative Program, Paynesville is committed to sustaining, increasing, and improving the supply of child care to strengthen their economy and further their workforce development.