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Local non-profit plans to build model for businesses to create on-site childcare centers

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A San Diego-based non-profit is encouraging an outside-the-box idea to help more San Diego families be able to afford quality childcare.

SAY San Diego plans to create a model for companies to follow to create their own daycare centers at their offices.

SAY, which stands for Social Advocates for Youth, says that early child development is a critical stage. With many families unable to afford the expensive cost of private daycare centers, SAY CEO Nancy Gannon Hornberger says other solutions are needed.

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"We need to be able to throw a lifeline to people like that in our community and say 'Sure, we can help. We can make that work for you," Gannon Hornberger said.

She says parents love the idea, both to have their children closer to them and to make childcare more convenient. Employers are interested in the being able to offer a unique benefit in a competitive hiring market. They also believe offering childcare will help lead to more loyal and invested employees.

The San Diego Foundation is giving SAY San Diego a $500,000 grant to build a daycare center at the SAY office in Kearny Mesa. The center will allow SAY to figure out the pitfalls before companies begin establishing their own daycares.

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"What are the logistics? How do you license? What does this cost? How do you permit a site? What does it mean in terms of employee benefits? We can be their consultant," Gannon Hornberger says. "We can help you investigate those questions. We can help you figure that out."

SAY San Diego anticipates opening its new childcare center in 2019.