The community of Red Wing is the seat of Goodhue County and has a population of about 16,000. It is located 50 miles SE of Minneapolis/St. Paul and 45 miles NE of Rochester. The city sits alongside the Mississippi River and is surrounded by a farming community. Red Wing is thriving, with citizens who come together to make life better for others. It is a regional hub for digital innovation and business development. It has a strong manufacturing base that includes both small and large companies. Approximately 7,600 people commute into Red Wing for employment. 

 

Lack of child care in Red Wing is impacting parents’ ability to work including accepting shift work or even declining offered positions because of a lack of child care, particularly infant and toddler spots. In January of 2018 there were 25 licensed family child care providers in Red Wing, down from 38 providers in 2012.  The city of Red Wing has a potential need for 184 child care slots, while the larger Red Wing Area has a potential need for 630 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.