Gallatin River Child Care

LEADERS IN BIG SKY continue work to address the availability, accessibility, and affordability of zero-to five-year-old early childhood education across the region. In response to the growing need, Gallatin River Child Care (GRCC) is helping to provide additional care for the community’s youngest residents. GRCC opened their Gallatin Gateway location in February 2024 and has operated under an employer-supported model. Now they are open to the public to accommodate any family across the Greater Gallatin Valley.

In addition to the Gateway location, GRCC is opening a second location in Big Sky Town Center. This location provides care for children starting at six weeks of age and offers additional flexibility and support to local families while complementing existing infant care options in the community.

However, there is more work to be done in the coming years to fully tackle the childcare gap and it will take collaboration from multiple community stakeholders. Looking ahead, local community foundations including Yellowstone Club Community Foundation (YCCF), Moonlight Community Foundation (MCF), and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation (SPCF), are working to support a new Big Sky Early Childhood Education Alliance that would unite existing childcare providers for zero- to five-year-olds in the development of a long-term plan for improved facilities and sustainable financial support.

To help launch the alliance’s work, Lone Mountain Land Company (LMLC) is leading the project design for a shared early learning facility near Town Center. “We aim to be part of the solution and are working closely in partnership with current providers to ensure that there is early childhood education availability in Big Sky now and into the future,” says Anna Johnson, Director of Community Engagement for LMLC.

To view the article in Big Sky Life click here

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