Greater Mankato Growth Applauds New Horizon Academy’s Commitment to Preserve Child Care and Jobs

Mankato, MN, February 9, 2026 – Greater Mankato Growth (GMG) celebrates New Horizon Academy’s acquisition of the Cultivate Mankato child care center in order to continue operations, ensuring vital continuity of care for local families and educators and preserving critical child care capacity in the heart of downtown. In addition to preserving child care capacity, New Horizon Academy offered positions to all current Cultivate Mankato staff, supporting both families and educators. The new school opened as New Horizon Academy on Monday, February 2, featuring upgraded classrooms and building improvements to ensure the highest quality of care for Mankato families.

“We’re deeply grateful to New Horizon Academy for stepping up to sustain local child care as well as to Candice Deal-Bartell for working with us to identify a transition plan,” said Ryan Vesey, Economic Development Director at Greater Mankato Growth. “The complete loss of this center would have been a critical hit to the parents and children involved.”

This transition was strengthened by collaboration across the region.  Child care access and availability was added as a strategic focus area through the Regional Economic Development Alliance (REDA). With this focus area in mind, GMG joined meetings facilitated by the Small Business Development Center which included the City of Mankato, major employers, and leading nonprofit organizations.

Mike Hahn, Director of the South Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center stated, “While SBDC consultants typically work one-on-one with business owners, this initiative became part of a larger regional effort to save this child care center. We couldn’t be happier to see a successful business transition come out of these efforts.”

GMG thanks Community Venture Network/The Brookshire Company, a key partner of the Regional Economic Development Alliance, for facilitating an introduction to New Horizon Academy.

“We’re excited to bring our early learning programs to the children and families of Mankato, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that more families have access to high-quality early education and care,” said Chad Dunkley, CEO of New Horizon Academy. “Our schools are built to nurture and designed to provide the best possible learning environment for children during their critical early years. We can’t wait to see the positive impact this school will have on the community.”

GMG extends appreciation to the City of Mankato for whose efforts are helping advance both the City of Mankato Strategic Plan and the Transforming Tomorrow Together regional vision for a stronger, more inclusive economy.