Channing Child Care Village model. (PioneerCare)
Fergus Falls, MN – On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, PioneerCare and Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony for PioneerCare’s Channing Child Care Village.
The project consists of building three twin-homes that will house a total of six child care pods and creating 60 to 70 new child care slots to the community.
“Friends, we are about 400 child care spots short in the community of Fergus Falls,” Nathan Johnson, CEO of PioneerCare, said. “So this project today really marks the beginning of coming together as a community to solve that problem. And we’re just so excited about that.”
Johnson says that with the help of Habitat for Humanity and other community partners, the plan is to construct one twin-home per year over the next three years on PioneerCare’s vacant land on Channing Avenue, behind the N.F. Field and CJB Law building.
Fergus Falls Area Habitat for Humanity Board Chair Dale Heglund said that the whole Habitat team has been enthusiastic about working on such an important project, not only to the community, but as the first daycare built by Habitat for Humanity in the nation. “Today is a good day, we’re making history,” Heglund said. “Together we’re better. Let’s put God’s mission, God’s love, into action.”
Fergus Falls Mayor Anthony Hicks said child care is a critical part of economic development, one of the key drivers of the current City Council. “For many years, there’s been a debate about who, what, and how child care can get done,” Hicks says. “Everybody knows the need, but it takes somebody to roll up their sleeves and actually do something about it. I truly believe that what Nathan and Dean (Monke) and their leadership have done in moving this project forward from just a concept to a reality has been a great achievement for our community.”
The community capital campaign, hosted by the PioneerCare Foundation, has already raised $1.35 million toward its $1.5 million goal through the generosity of local businesses, foundations, charitable trusts, and other community partners.
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