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Anchorage is currently facing a childcare crisis with significant shortages in childcare availability and soaring tuition rates driven by lack of available childcare workers. The average Alaska childcare worker earns just $14.18 per hour (thread, 2023) leading to extreme staffing turnover and a shortage of available workers. The Citywide Childcare Cooperative (CCC) will pilot a worker-owned cooperative (WOC) childcare center at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in downtown Anchorage. Under this cooperative model, employees are worker-owners who are empowered to create, own, and democratically control business decisions, leading to an empowered and satisfied childcare workforce (Democracy at Work Institute, 2021). Research finds that this leads to better wages, less burnout, and higher job satisfaction for childcare professionals. This will be the first WOC enterprise in the State of Alaska and has the potential to dramatically build workforce and childcare capacity in the state. The CCC pilot program at First UMC will host 84 kids ages 19 months to 5 years old with an after school elementary care program and is set to launch mid-year 2025. This project has four goals:
1) Develop CCC business model
2) Develop CCC operations and licensing
3) Complete FUMC building renovations
4) CCC Launch
These funds from the Rotary District grant will go towards the kitchen renovation for the CCC at FUMC, ensuring that kids are fed healthy, nutritious, and safe meals. The building renovations will occur between July and December 2024. During that time, there will likely be volunteer opportunities for Rotarians to help lay flooring, paint, and set up classrooms. After opening, Rotarians can continue to support the CCC through volunteering in the classrooms and providing supplies.
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