Turnagain Arm's Childcare Crisis is Fixable.
By Thea Ritter
Little Bears Board Member
Girdwood not only has a housing crisis, but also a childcare crisis.
The only licensed childcare center serving Girdwood, Bird, Indian, Portage and Whittier is Little Bears Playhouse, a nonprofit operating out of a very small facility built in 1960 by volunteers.
Not only is the building too small for Girdwood’s childcare needs, but the snow load of the roof is such that parents are asked to sign a waiver acknowledging this structural risk to allow their children to attend. The facility is only large enough to accommodate 30 children.
A photo showing the current Little Bears PlayHouse taken Jan. 24. (Courtesy of Little Bears)
Due to space limitations, Little Bears cannot accommodate care for children younger than 12 months nor offer after-school care. Parents in Girdwood frequently lament about the long waitlist to get enrolled at Little Bears, which can be as long as two years for toddlers.
Having a childcare facility that meets the community’s needs is not only important for familieswith small children, but vital for the entire community.
Childcare has a multiplier effect on the local economy. When young children are able to haveconsistent childcare their parents are able to work more and fill jobs in the community and, in turn, put more money back into the community.
Stable childcare not only helps the economy, but the mental health of families and small business owners. The stress of having to scramble to find childcare while trying to work puts a strain on families.
Parents should have the option to stay home with their children if they are able to financially, not be compelled to do so by lack of childcare options.
A larger and improved childcare facility in Girdwood is critical.
A design of the new childcare facility. (Graphic provided by Skylab Architecture)
Lindsey Helmbrecht, co-owner of Powder Hound Ski & Bike, spoke of the difficulties of childcare in Girdwood.
“As a small business owner in Girdwood, I understand the challenges that come with finding reliable childcare. Balancing work and family is already tough, and having access to quality childcare is essential to focus on our responsibilities without worrying about our children's well-being. Supporting initiatives like the new Little Bears facility is crucial for the growth and stability of our local business community,” Helmbrecht said.
The Girdwood Workforce Childcare Project is a collaborative effort between Girdwood Inc. and Little Bears Playhouse. The project's mission is to build a new childcare facility for our community, which Little Bears Playhouse will own and operate.
The new facility will be located on Alyeska Resort property near Our Lady of the Snows Chapel.
The building committee overseeing this project has secured a generous 99-year land lease for $1 per year from Pomeroy Lodging.
The new facility will more than triple the current capacity of the current facility to 110 children, and can provide childcare for infants as well as after-school care opportunities.
While the effort to secure funding for this project has been over a decade in the making, a huge milestone was met when $1.6 million was awarded to the project from the Anchorage Assembly through the American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2022.
In the summer of 2023, the project received $530,000 from the Community Childcare Innovation Grant from the State of Alaska. The grant covers planning and pre-construction expenses but not building construction costs.
And, most recently, the project was awarded a $350,000 grant from The Rasmuson Foundation, and a very generous donation of $50,000 from Chugach Powder Guides.
Despite the continued progress in fundraising, more funds are needed for Little Bears to complete the building without debt.
To date, about $820,000 needs to be raised to successfully complete the building without debt.
At the Alaska’s Childcare Summit, it was noted that one of the key factors needed for successful childcare, industry-wide, is to be free of debt. The goal is to set up Little Bears Playhouse for long term success, without a mortgage, so the nonprofit can focus its attention and funds on teaching and caring for our community’s children.
Little Bears Playhouse and Girdwood Inc. are inviting community members to join their kick off event, “Everyone For Girdwood” this Thursday, January 25!
The event will be held at Challenge Alaska between 5-9 PM.
There will be both indoor and outdoor activities, including food, music, drinks, and a cozy fire pit.
Tickets can be purchased at: https://girdwoodinc.org/shop/. All funds raised will support the Girdwood Workforce Childcare Project, which is a collaborative effort between the two nonprofits, with an end goal of building a new childcare center.
To learn more about the progress of the project, visit www.girdwoodinc.com/childcare/. To contribute to the new facility you can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/Everyone-for-girdwood, donate via Girdwood Inc., or mail checks to: Girdwood Inc. PO Box 1102 Girdwood, AK 99587, EIN: 77-0631498 (Memo: Childcare).