Day care crunch continues to tighten in Floyd
Although prospective purchasers are looking at the former Copper Hill Center, the shutdown has triggered a new wave of need as parents dialed existing centers looking for options.
Day care centers in the region have added a few more children in recent months, but nowhere near enough to ease a significant shortage of day care seats.
Working parents with young ones have lost access to day care following several facility closures including, last month, Copper Hill Childcare. Although prospective purchasers are looking at the former Copper Hill Center, the shutdown has triggered a new wave of need as parents dialed existing centers looking for options.
Guided by Grace, a faith-based center in Floyd, heard from about 25 families seeking alternate care.
Hardwood, LVP, Carpet, Tile & Stone. We've got it all! Floyd Floor Co. brings quality and craftsmanship to every home for every budget. From design selection to expert installation, we handle everything. Call or visit our showroom to see what's new and get your free estimate today! 540-302-2858
“I had to turn most away,” Guided by Grace owner Caileigh Gearhart said.
Gearhart, however, is adding about five seats. Her capacity will rise to 45 with the okay of licensing authorities in January, she said.
“I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
The only real solution is more “quality” child care providers to fill the void — the kind who meet stringent state standards enforced by the Virginia Department of Education, she said.
“I don’t want centers to open just to open. I want them to provide quality care,” she said.
Join our team of vendors every Saturday from April through November from 9am – 1pm at 203 S. Locust St. You’ll find delicious treats, unique crafts, lovely music, sweet conversations, and more. Let us come together in our vibrant small-town farmers market with the opportunity to mingle with neighbors and friends, old and new.
Virginia needs more than 150,000 additional child-care seats to fill the void statewide. Without care, parents must sometimes reduce their work hours, take lower-paying jobs or cease working, according to the Joint Legislative Review and Audit Commission. Floyd-area centers serve an estimated 332 children out of an estimated 462 children who need daytime care, according to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.
Fortunately, local providers were able to take on a few more children in the face of rising demand. Keely Walton, who operates Woolwine Early Learning Center, said she recently expanded by seven additional children.
"I made room. I hired more employees," she said.
Now sitting at 35 enrollees, she is at capacity, she said.
The scene is shifting so fast, 211 Virginia, a free telephone resource operated by the Virginia Department of Social Services, can’t keep up.
Strong bodies build strong lives. At Floyd Fitness, we create a space where movement transforms confidence, health, and energy. Whether you’re starting fresh or chasing new goals, our team and community are here to support you every step. Join today and see what strength feels like!
A 211 operator identified Copper Hill Child Care and Milestones Childcare in Floyd, which also closed, as the centers serving Floyd County.
Copper Hill owner Amy Goff put her facility and the business on the market for $650,000 before it closed in an effort to find a new owner and operator. But the deadline for a sale that would have kept the center open came and went at the end of October.
A for-sale sign remains up, and the center’s phone number has been disconnected.
Mark J. Harris
Floyd County Farm Bureau
(540) 745-2021
335 E. Oxford St.
Floyd VA 24091
Levi Cox, who is listing the property for United Country Real Estate Blue Ridge Land and Auction, said he is working with two prospects. Both are examining the site as a possible day care center, he said.
The facility is not under contract, he cautioned, and a number of steps including obtaining loans and licenses would have to occur for either party to move forward, he said. He described his mood as “hopeful.”
MORE
