NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In Davidson County, there's been a call for public investment to help Nashville's low-income families afford childcare.

According to a white paper released last month from the Nashville Early Education Coalition, 12 childcare centers said they haven't been able to afford covering their operational costs. Many of those facilities serve low-income families, according to the publication — which was produced in partnership with Elevate, Raising Readers Nashville and United Way of Greater Nashville.

"I never went into this field thinking I would have to advocate for funding," Alyssa Garnett-Arno, the Executive Director of St. Mary Villa, said.

Garnett-Arno said it takes a village to raise a child, and in Nashville, that village has been struggling.

In 2022, Metro Council approved funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to help stabilize centers serving low-income families, However, that funding stopped being distributed in December 2024. It had been used to raise staff pay and create more spots at childcare centers, which helped alleviate waitlists.

"If we don't have those dollars, we can't hire more staff, can't enroll more children," Garnett-Arno said.

Garnett-Arno got emotional speaking about how much the kids mean to her. She said it's the children who hurt the most from a lack of funding and quality childcare.

"I know that not everyone who comes in this building has food security, housing security," Garnett-Arno said. "They come to school in different types of cars. Some take the bus. Some walk."

There's still hope that the village that helps raise Nashville's children can get the support it needs. Until then, they'll make it work by making sacrifices.

"We're here because we want to be here, because we know what we do is important," Garnett-Arno said.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/call-public-investment-childcare-centers/