An accessible, affordable child care system is critical to keeping Nebraska’s families working, businesses growing and communities thriving. Our Investing in Child Care series highlights how Nebraska employers are championing early childhood care and education programs in the areas they serve.
Black Hills Energy, a natural gas and electric utility provider for 319 Nebraska communities, is using investments from its corporate foundation to strengthen child care programs. When the South Dakota company began operating in Nebraska in 2016, it brought a vision of improving quality of life in its communities. Supporting education and workforce initiatives is a key giving priority of that vision.
Black Hills Energy and its giving priorities statewide include early childhood programs, nutrition services, libraries, playgrounds and other education and child development initiatives. Black Hills Energy’s foundation has donated about $90,000 to support Nebraska child care programs, according to Melissa Garcia, senior community affairs manager.
“One area of investment our foundation really likes to support is bricks-and-mortar, capital investment projects,” she said.
Black Hills has invested in capital donations for Gothenburg’s Impact Center, Boone Beginnings in Albion, Stick Creek Kids in Wood River and The Valley Child Development Center in Red Cloud.
Check out Investing in Child Care: Black Hills Energy to learn how corporate foundations can strengthen child care infrastructure statewide.
More in Investing in Child Care series:
Applied Connective Technologies | In-Kind Donations
Seward Memorial Health Care Systems | On-Site Child Care
