Five Big Obstacles to Opening Child Care Facilities in Rural Illinois

Over the past decade , Illinois has experienced a 33% decline in licensed child care providers.

Launching a child care center can cost upwards of $1 million , even in rural areas.

The state has increased payments to providers in recent years , but it hasn’t been enough to reverse the damage caused by years of budget cuts.

As of April 2023 , the state reimbursed less than 45% of market rates for child care centers.

This underfunding violated federal equal access provisions.

Rural providers face additional hurdles beyond inadequate reimbursement rates.

High startup costs and lower population density make it harder to fill classrooms quickly, prolonging financial strain.