QUINCY (WGEM) – Following a recent dip in childcare workers since the COVID-19 Pandemic, GREDF and the Adams County Board partnered to increase employment.

According to a report by GREDF, the amount of childcare slots in Quincy has dropped by 14% since 2018. Because of the glaring decline, the Adams County Board decided to figure out a plan to combat the problem.

“Since COVID, there were some employees that, when it was time to go back to work, they didn’t want to pursue it anymore,” Adams County Board Chairman Bret Austin said.

The plan is to create a program that would recruit high school and college-aged Quincy residents to participate in the childcare field. The Great River Economic Development Foundation, or “GREDF,” decided to partner with the board to launch the program.

“[The program includes] a paid assistance at Quincy High School, a tuition assistance for the enrollment at John Wood Community College, and then a $3,000 sign on bonus,” GREDF Vice President Madison Peters explained.

Both Austin and Peters explained that it would be a three-pronged attack that would educate, train, and retain childcare employees from within Adams County.

“The hope is to inject immediate impact into childcare for the community,” Austin explained.

Austin said the goal is not only to create more jobs for Adams County residents, but to alleviate the stress on working parents and provide a setting to educate and nurture children.

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