Little Scholars Childcare Center Expands in Faribault

May 21, 2025

From left: Tom Steinmetz (Executive Director, HCI), Keshuna Williams (DEED grant manager), and Kelsey Duffy (Network Impact Coordinator, Growing Up Healthy) outside the new Little Scholars Academy location.

A new childcare center opened in Faribault last week, marking the result of a year-long partnership between Healthy Community Initiative and Faribault Cares. Little Scholars Academy will serve 77 children from infant to school-age. It’s located at 550 Wilson Avenue and is the second Faribault location for Little Scholars, which also has a facility at 128 8th Ave. NW.

Kelsey Duffy, HCI’s network impact coordinator for Ready for Kindergarten, said the center “represents not only care and learning, but the very best of what community collaboration can achieve.”

Duffy noted that HCI provided behind-the-scenes support to Faribault Cares—in areas like grant writing and hiring logistics—so that the Faribault nonprofit organization could focus on its vision.

“This kind of support isn’t always visible, but it’s absolutely essential. When the people with the boldest ideas for change are freed up to lead and innovate, real things happen,” Duffy said. “We’re incredibly proud to walk alongside Faribault Cares as their fiscal partner and backbone organization.”

For more information about Little Scholars Academy, visit their Facebook page or call 507-323-8063.