Building the Future: New Grant Supports Child Care, Students, and the Workforce

Andria Smith speaking at the 2025 Education to Employment Summit with panelists Lottie Ryans and Chuck Carter

A vision years in the making is becoming a reality for Sullivan County Schools thanks to a $1.5 million New Care Partner grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The innovative project will establish childcare centers that not only support school employees with access to affordable, high-quality childcare, but also create valuable career pathways for students interested in early childhood education.

Behind this significant investment is a strong partnership that included planning and technical assistance from the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD).

FTDD's team worked alongside Sullivan County Schools throughout the development of the project, providing research, grant writing support, and strategic planning that helped transform an idea into a successful funding proposal.

"Our role was to help build a strong, data-driven case for why this investment was needed," said Andria Smith, FTDD. "This project addresses multiple community needs at once by supporting working families, strengthening teacher recruitment and retention, and preparing the next generation of early childhood educators."

FTDD's involvement began with conducting two comprehensive childcare assessment surveys to identify local needs and opportunities. The organization also assisted Sullivan County Schools Director Chuck Carter with School Board presentations, researched successful childcare and Career and Technical Education (CTE) partnership models across the state, and helped identify potential locations on school properties for the new centers.

As the project developed, FTDD provided grant writing, research, and supporting data while also helping facilitate a partnership with the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA, which will operate the childcare centers.

One of the project's most innovative components is its educational pipeline for future educators. Students enrolled in Sullivan County Schools' education-focused CTE programs will gain hands-on experience working in the childcare centers while earning work-based learning credit. Through a newly developed partnership with Northeast State Community College, students can also earn significant credit toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Education before graduating from high school, giving them a substantial head start on a career in teaching and child development.

The creation of this dual-enrollment pathway was made possible through the leadership of Mitzi Neeley of Northeast State Community College, who was instrumental in designing the program and ensuring students have a seamless transition from high school into postsecondary education. The result is a stronger workforce pipeline that benefits students, employers, and the region's growing need for qualified early childhood professionals.

The collaboration doesn't end with the grant award. FTDD continues to work with Sullivan County Schools and project partners to pursue additional funding opportunities and showcase the initiative at statewide summits as a model for other communities. The team will present the project again later this month in Nashville, marking the third statewide opportunity to share the program's success and lessons learned.

"This is truly a team effort," Smith said. "Everyone involved is committed to creating a blueprint that combines childcare, employee support, and hands-on learning experiences for students who want to become teachers."

FTDD is proud to support projects that strengthen communities through strategic planning, partnership development, and grant assistance. This investment demonstrates how collaborative planning can produce innovative solutions that address workforce challenges while creating lasting opportunities for families, students, educators, and employers across Northeast Tennessee. The Sullivan County Schools model has the potential to serve as a blueprint for communities across Tennessee seeking to address childcare shortages while simultaneously investing in their future workforce.