The rural region located in St. Louis County and referred to as the Quad Cities, includes Virginia,
Eveleth, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron. The Quad Cities are located on the Iron Range in Northeastern Minnesota with a combined population of 19,350.  This community is driven by three primary industries, iron mining, health care and education.

 

The lack of available child care is having a direct impact on current employers and their employees, recruitment of new employees and families, and schools.  Communities have seen a drastic decline of in-home child care providers and there are only three small full-time centers, as well as one small drop in center currently in operation. The Quad Cities region has an
estimated potential need for 624 child care slots. Through the Rural Child Care Innovation Program, the community is working towards creating sustainable solutions that increase the supply of affordable and high quality child care.