The Fort Dodge Care Project Work Group has been formed to study issues that face child care solutions and to pursue resolutions to improve child care services in the community. According to the website Child Care Connections the rates charged by child care providers in Fort Dodge and the surrounding areas are low. Due to those rates providers can’t afford to pay their staff or staff appropriately. They say that is one of the major factors in the lack of available child care in the area, which in turn impacts the local workforce and economy. Representative Ann Meyer (Fort Dodge) has been working in the legislature to help provide solutions to these issues by introducing child care related bills. A bill titled HF 2270 would require DHS to set the reimbursement rate for childcare providers at 50% of the market rate survey from December 2017, that change would go in effect this July. For more information on area child care issues call Child Care Connections at 515-955-5437 or go to their website www.ChildCareConnections.com