Lincoln Trail Area Development District
Aug 21, 2026
Investment will expand child care capacity and support working families across the Lincoln Trail region
Ask any working parent, and they’ll tell you: child care isn’t just a family issue, it’s vital economic infrastructure. With the help of State Rep. Samara Heavrin, the Lincoln Trail Area Development District took a significant step toward strengthening that foundation with the announcement of a $1.1 million budget appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly.
Championed by Heavrin, the funding was presented July 15 during LTADD’s monthly board meeting and is designed to expand regional child care capacity and support working families across the eight-county region.
“This funding is a monumental victory for our workforce, our families, and our local economies,” said Daniel London, LTADD executive director. “Securing these resources allows us to build a multi-pronged infrastructure that directly addresses the child care shortage holding back our families and businesses. We are incredibly grateful to Rep. Samara Heavrin for her exceptional leadership and determination in spearheading this initiative through the General Assembly. She recognizes that child care is infrastructure, and this investment will leave a lasting legacy across our eight counties.”
The state funding follows findings from LTADD’s 2024 Child Care Study, which found that more than 2,000 parents in the region who are willing to work would immediately return to full-time employment if they had access to reliable child care. Bringing those workers back into the labor force is projected to generate up to $126 million in annual payroll and increase the region’s gross regional product by $230 million.
To help realize that economic potential, LTADD plans to:
Establish 25 new child care programs across the region.
Expand capacity at up to 50 existing providers.
Develop public-private partnerships among local employers and economic development organizations to support sustainable growth in rural communities.
By bringing together local businesses, childcare providers, economic development leaders and state government, LTADD is working to address child care needs through a regional approach. Heavrin, who has made child care a focus of her legislative work, highlighted the broader impact of the investment.
“Ensuring Kentucky families have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality childcare is essential to fostering a healthy, happy, and prosperous Commonwealth,” Heavrin said. “By making life more affordable for working parents, we aren’t just supporting families; we are strengthening our entire economic foundation.”
LTADD also hopes the initiative can serve as a model for other parts of Kentucky, providing a framework communities can adapt as they work to expand child care capacity and address workforce needs.