Find or Become a Child Care Provider Today!
Child care providers are essential pillars in both economic and social development. They play a crucial role in fostering early childhood development, supporting families, and strengthening communities.”
Licensed Child Care Providers in Renville County
- Search by County and License Type (Child Care Center, Family Child Care, etc.)
- Does your family need help paying for the cost of child care?
- Learn more about Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which can help make quality child care affordable for lower-income families.
Thinking About Starting a Child Care Business?
Family child care providers care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children, typically in their own homes. Family child care providers are licensed through Renville County Human Services.
Begin the Licensing Process:
- Learn about becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Provider.
- Download and complete the Family Child Care Provider Application.
- Contact Renville County Human Services to submit your application and learn about next steps.
- Email Shandra or call 320-523-3588
- Email Sheree or call 320-523-3563
Other Steps to Complete the Licensing Process:
- Your licensor will inspect your home to make sure it meets licensor requirements (PDF).
- A background study will need to be completed on you and your household members.
- A medical exam must be completed by a licensed physician within the past 12-month, stating you are physically able to care for children
- State Fire Marshal visit to your home.
Forms and Policies for Current Family Child Care Providers:
You Are More Than Just a Babysitter
When you care for children of family, friends, or neighbors, you are providing critical support in helping children, families, and your community thrive.”
Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFNs) caregivers are aunts, uncles, grandparents, close family friends, and neighbors who provide child care. Often they are a loved one of a child and don’t consider themselves as a child care provider. Instead, they may see themselves as a babysitter or just a close loved one.
If you are a caregiver who takes care of children on the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), you may register as a Legal Non-Licensed Provider (LNL) to receive payment from this program.
Steps to Become a Legal-Non Licensed Provider
- Complete the registration form PDF.
- Complete a background study, including all household members 13 and older.
- Complete required trainings.
- If caring for one unrelated family, you must also complete a yearly monitoring visit.
Local FFN Navigator Contact Information:
Your local FFN Navigator will provide you with the support you need to become a Legal Non-Licensed Provider in the areas of education, nutrition, health and wellness, and safety. Contact Vanessa to get the process started today.
Email Vanessa or call 320-333-5796
Open a Child Care Center
Child care centers provide care in groups based on age and are often in free-standing buildings, businesses, community centers, or places of worship. Child care center are licensed through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
There Are Many Free Resources to Help You Start a Child Care Business!
First Children’s Finance
If you’re looking at starting, improving, or expanding a child care business, First Children’s Finance has a range of programs and services specifically designed for child care entrepreneurs:
- Assistance with start-up and expansion
- Financial assessments
- Business improvement plans
- Business Loans
Local Contact Information:
Contact Desi, First Children’s Finance SW MN Business Development Specialist, to learn more about the resources available to help open your child care business.
Child Care Wayfinder
Child Care Wayfinder is a one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs in Minnesota. They offer personalized support and resources to help you succeed:
- Preparing your home and business
- Applying for a license
- Creating policies and procedures
- Opening and operating with ongoing support
Local Contact Information:
Contact Tanna, Child Care Community Coordinator / Navigator, who will provide you personalized support and resources to help your child care business succeed.
Renville County HRA/EDA Child Care Forgivable Loan Program
The Renville County HRA/EDA’s Childcare Forgivable Loan Program can assist with the creation of new, and expansion of existing, child care providers within Renville County.
The HRA/EDA can also connect you to a variety of resources, including grants, financing and technical assistance for in home child care businesses and child care centers. Contact the Renville County EDA to learn more at 320-523-3656 or email the EDA.
- Program Overview:
- Family child care providers are eligible for forgivable loans of up to $7,500. (eff. 8-24-2023)
- Family child care providers renting a unit at the West Wing are eligible for forgivable loans of up to $1,500. The lower amount is due to units coming mostly furnished with equipment necessary for child care. (eff. 9-25-2025)
- Childcare centers are eligible for forgivable loans of up to $15,000. (eff. 8-24-2023)
- Eligible applicants include new home childcare providers and centers and those expanding capacity.
- Loans are for five years, with 20% of the loan being forgiven for each year in operation after receiving the loan. If the borrower remains in business for five years after making of the loan, the loan is 100% fully forgiven.
- Loan repayments shall be deferred for five years, or until the provider ceases operation, whichever is first.
- Eligible uses may include improvements to the childcare space, equipment and supplies.
Interested in Providing Child Care Outside Your Home?
The Renville County HRA/EDA may have the perfect opportunity for you!
We’re excited to introduce our new Special Family Child Care (SFCC) units – designed specifically for licensed providers who want to operate their child care program in a space outside their home.
In Minnesota, SFCC programs serve 14 or fewer children and are located outside the provider’s personal residence. To support this model, Renville County has recently acquired an apartment building in the City of Renville and is making four units available exclusively for SFCC use.
If you’re ready to grow your child care business in a dedicated, professional space—we want to hear from you!
How to Apply for a Special Family Child Care Unit:
- Submit your SFCC unit application by email or in person at the Renville County Government Services Center, 105 5th St. S, Suite 311, Olivia, MN.
- Contact Shandra, Renville County Child Care Licensor, at 320-523-3588 or by email to start the licensing process.
- Reach out to Desi, First Children’s Finance, at 612-439-9771 or by email for FREE help starting your child care business.
- Connect with Tanna, Child Care Wayfinder, at 320-235-0850 ext. 1318 or by email for FREE assistance in starting your child care business.
The HRA/EDA will accept unit applications on a rolling basis until the project is ready to commence. If the number of applications exceeds the available units, the Renville County HRA/EDA will conduct interviews with applicants to select providers using a Child Care Provider Rental Unit Scoring Rubric.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Special Family Child Care units or application, contact Stefanie Ryan at 320-523-3592 or via email.
This project is supported, in part, by the State of Minnesota through a child care economic development grant from the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
