Big boost sought for child care in Greater Minnesota Statistics reveal that more than 5,000 child care spots are needed in the southwest region of the state. 6:30 am, Apr. 3, 2021 × (Graphic submitted by Greater Minnesota Partnership) REGIONAL — It’s by no means a new problem, but a new effort is under way to give child care a desperately needed boost throughout Greater Minnesota. Statistics provided by the Greater Minnesota Partnership (GMNP) show that more than 39,000 additional child care spots are needed in Greater Minnesota alone, including more than 5,000 in the southwest region of the state. The child care woes are compounded by the fact that, even though population in several Greater Minnesota counties grew between the years 2000 and 2020, more than 20,000 child care spots were lost during those two decades.