MSU Extension initiative addresses rural childcare needs

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service has received funding through congressional appropriations for a three-year initiative to expand access to licensed childcare.

Childcare as a Business: Growth and Entrepreneurship will serve rural Mississippi communities with populations of 20,000 or fewer. Building on MSU Extension’s Nurturing Homes Initiative, the project will help unlicensed childcare providers work toward licensure and support existing providers who want to strengthen or expand their businesses.

“Childcare providers are essential to the families and communities they serve, but many need support to navigate licensing requirements and build a sustainable business,” said Jamila Taylor, executive director of MSU Extension Early Childhood Programs. “This project will give rural providers practical guidance and resources while helping more families access quality childcare close to home.”

Participants will receive individualized licensing assistance, business training and ongoing coaching. Training will address financial management, budgeting, tuition rates, recordkeeping, marketing and business planning. Eligible providers may also receive support for facility improvements needed to meet licensing requirements, including fencing, handwashing stations, restroom modifications and fire safety equipment.

MSU Extension will recruit providers from rural communities with limited access across all four of Mississippi’s congressional districts, prioritizing areas with the greatest childcare shortages.

The project aims to help up to 25 childcare businesses obtain licenses or expand licensed services, creating an estimated 400 new childcare slots. It runs from Aug. 1, 2026, to July 31, 2029.