Apple Tree West Location to Stay Open Despite Closure of Other Childcare Centers

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated that it is not the government's role to directly subsidize child care for families, emphasizing that parents are responsible for their children. Noem's comments came amidst the closure of several child care centers in Sioux Falls, leading to a decrease in licensed child care spots. The cost of child care in Sioux Falls is considered unaffordable for many families, with a family needing to make over $163,000 to afford it at current tuition rates. South Dakota lacks state funding for early childhood education or child care. Noem believes that helping parents earn higher wages is key to affording child care and has allocated tens of millions of dollars in grants to child care providers.