By Carli Johnson REGIONAL NEWS INTERN
The Big Sky Early Childhood Alliance is a new initiative led by Greater Gallatin United Way and is set to tackle the region’s child care challenges by uniting local providers, businesses and community organizations. A three-year project, the alliance will work to improve access to affordable, high quality child care for Big Sky families.
The initiative has brought together a broad coalition of over a dozen stakeholders, including the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, Moonlight Community Foundation, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation and Lone Mountain Land Company. The goal is to create a cooperative child care center and address critical issues such as high costs, limited slots and lack of infrastructure.
“This project will help provide affordable child care options for families and create a foundation for future solutions,” Tori Sproles, GGUW’s director of early learning, told EBS. “By working with employers and other community partners, we can build a sustainable model that benefits both workers and businesses.”
Child care in Big Sky is a growing concern. According to the 2023 Big Sky Childcare Report, the average monthly cost of child care is $1,733—16.2% of the median Big Sky family income. This is twice as much as what is considered affordable by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which claims child care should cost no more than 7% of a family’s income. With this initiative, GGUW aims to ease this financial burden by creating more affordable, accessible child care solutions.
President and CEO of GGUW Kimberly Hall explained to EBS how the child care crisis is best addressed by looking at the bigger picture. “We need to develop more resources for families moving to the area,” Hall said. “The conversations around child care offer an opportunity to bring everybody together and strategize on how we can solve some of the challenges and help support this growing community.”
The alliance is already looking ahead to potential infrastructure improvements, including the possibility of building a new child care facility in the Big Sky area. The idea is to create a collaborative, cooperative space that can serve the growing needs of Big Sky families.
The project recently received approval for $25,000 in funding from the Big Sky Resort Area District’s “microgrant” program to help meet its $140,000 goal, with plans to secure full funding by June 30, 2025.
As the project moves forward, the alliance aims to create not just a solution to the immediate child care crisis, but also a sustainable model that can grow and adapt as the community evolves. The initiative’s leaders are confident that with the support of local partners, businesses, and families, the alliance can help shape a brighter future for child care in Big Sky.
“It takes a village,” Hall said. “The one thing I want to stress is why community coordination and facilitation is so important. We can’t do this alone, no single entity can do this alone. Bringing folks together and finding solutions is really important.”
She added, “The community has shown incredible support for this initiative, and we’re excited to bring everyone together to create lasting change.”
