In northern Minnesota communities, these authors argue that access to high quality child care is an integral part of a community's infrastructure, particularly in rural Minnesota. They visited state legislators in Thief River Falls and Bemidji to discuss the need for affordable, available child care. They heard from parents, teachers, and employers who struggle to find staff due to low wages and lack of access to child care, which is impacting their ability to accept jobs and work at these institutions. The authors suggest that universal child care should be supported by both families and providers, with tuition subsidized by the state to be free or low cost to all families. They also suggest that public investment in child care could be a key investment in the future of the industry.