Hills day care receives boost from state grant

The city of Hills received a $120,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
The money will further the city’s project to convert a former commercial building into a facility that houses three independent family child care businesses.
Hills was one of 17 communities who split $2.5 million to increase the supply of quality child care providers to support regional economic development.
Governor Tim Walz announced the grant awards in a Thursday, Dec. 1, press release.
“In every community across the state, we hear from families and small businesses that increasing access to affordable child care is the best way to support the work force, grow our economy and foster economic prosperity,” Walz said.
Hills began their day care project earlier this year when city officials acquired a tax-forfeited property from the county.
They spent $25,000 cleaning up the commercial building located on South Main Avenue. The building formerly housed four individual businesses before most recently becoming a private home.
Shortly after acquiring the building, Hills officials requested and received $100,000 from Rock County commissioners to assist in the building’s remodel. The $100,000 was a portion of federal dollars the county received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.