In the heart of the capital region, families in Bismarck are feeling the squeeze from two fronts: too few affordable childcare spots and growing smoke from wildfires in Montana and Canada that’s complicating outdoor schooling and everyday life.
Childcare access under strain
North Dakota continues to grapple with limited childcare availability: just 21 % of the demand for licensed care in Burleigh County is being met.
At the same time, the cost of daycare remains a major barrier. Thankfully, the state’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) supports working families with subsidies.
The state has also rolled out workforce-incentive efforts, including a “Child Care Workforce Benefit” to support employees in licensed programs and boost capacity.
Local initiatives are making headway. For example, University of Mary opened its Center for Early Learning in central Bismarck in June 2025, offering care for 70-80 children and helping ease the deficit.
For families, the implications are real: fewer available slots, rising costs, limited options. For employers and the local economy, childcare shortages are locking out willing workers and limiting workforce participation.
While childcare access is one challenge, so is the air quality. Smoke from wildfires in Canada and northern Montana has begun affecting parts of North Dakota, including Bismarck.
Schools such as Bismarck Public Schools have already made adjustments—canceling or shortening outdoor practices when air-quality indices soared.
Officials from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) are urging residents with respiratory issues, children and seniors to limit outdoor exposure, close windows and set HVAC systems to recirculate when smoke is present.
The need for high-quality early childhood environments has never been more urgent,” said Jennifer Barry, Director of the University of Mary’s Center for Early Learning. “Parents who work in child care also have to think about child care for their children,” noted Michele Gee, Economic Assistance Director at ND HHS, about the workforce benefit.
“Because of the front that brought in Canadian wildfire smoke … all practices were limited to one hour and 15 minutes Tuesday with frequent breaks,” reported a Bismarck Public Schools official.
Explore subsidy options through CCAP to mitigate costs of childcare. The workforce benefit may ease staffing and cost burdens, helping establish more childcare capacity. Monitor air quality indices (AQI) daily during wildfire season; adjust outdoor activities accordingly. When smoke drifts in, stay indoors as much as practical, keep windows closed, and use air recirculation in HVAC systems.
