Dubuque County Child Care Solutions Fund

Business Champions

The Child Care Solution’s Fund dates back to December 2023. At that time, Dubuque Initiatives, in partnership with Greater Dubuque Development Corp., launched Business Champions for Child Care to strengthen the region’s workforce and economy through strategic investment in child care. The initiative secured $560,000 in state funding through a pilot program in 10 Iowa communities and leveraged $819,000 in local investment.

Fifteen leading employers in the Dubuque region joined together to create this multi-year fund, reinforcing child care as a critical driver of workforce stability and long-term economic growth in Dubuque County.

In 2025, the Dubuque County Child Care Solutions Fund, as it is now known, transitioned to the Community Foundation, which has a long history of building relationships and mobilizing resources to address complex community challenges.

The Foundation’s approach to child care is grounded in its role as a trusted convener, a responsible steward of donor dollars, and a credible partner to policymakers. This unique position allows the Foundation to listen to providers, align philanthropic investments with community need, and engage legislators in informed conversations that strengthen the child care system across Dubuque County.

Measurable Impact

By strengthening and stabilizing the child care workforce, the fund expands access to affordable, high-quality child care, easing a barrier to employment, and supports a stronger, more resilient workforce and economy.

Since launching, the fund has granted $915,000 to local centers, support that has made a meaningful impact on the availability of child care. By the end of 2025, the fund had helped reduce the gap in available child care slots in Dubuque County by 47% since 2022, according to Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral. In the past two years, the fund has helped create 397 new child care slots.

Though challenges remain, Dubuque County is meeting child care demand at a higher rate than other Iowa metro areas. Here, child care centers are meeting 73% of demand, while peer counties Scott, Johnson, Black Hawk, Linn and Polk have rates ranging from 57% to 66%, according to Iowa Child Care Connect.

This increase in slots is, in part, due to an increase in the number of child care professionals. The fund has led to the hiring of 182 professionals countywide since 2024, while child care wages have increased by $2.18 per hour in the past two years, thanks to grant support. Today, the retention rate for child care workers is 71.5%, compared to 66.5% nationally.

“Child Care Solutions grant funding has strengthened our staffing through competitive wages, onboarding programs and professional development,” says Tina Pothoff, director of Our Lady of Guadelupe Early Childhood in Dubuque. “These resources help us attract and retain quality staff, ensuring new team members feel supported and confident in their roles.

Be Part of the Solution

As the fund enters its third year, the Community Foundation is seeking new partners, including individuals and businesses, to contribute to the fund and support the local workforce.

“For every dollar invested in child care, businesses see returns through reduced employee absenteeism, improved recruitment, and workforce stability,” says Mary Jo Jean-Francois, vice president of impact at the Community Foundation. “Investing in the Child Care Solutions Fund directly supports a business’ ability to attract and retain talent.”