MANHATTAN (KSNT) - The Childcare Business Initiative (CBI) is set to break ground next week for a new child care facility. State and local leaders will be present for the groundbreaking ceremony which starts at 11 a.m. on Oct. 9 at 2423 Kimball Ave. in Manhattan. The facility will be equipped with eight childcare suites in the hopes of supporting working families. Vern Henricks with the CBI said the organization was founded to combat the shortage of childcare services in the Manhattan area. Currently, only 50% of local childcare demand is being met. Once the facility is operational it will provide 96 childcare slots. What family-friendly fall events are happening in NE Kansas? "We are building not just a facility but a foundation for the future of childcare in our region," said Lisa Sederlin Isaacson, Executive Director of Childcare Business Initiative and the Flint Hills Community Accelerator. "By empowering entrepreneurs to create sustainable childcare businesses, we’re not only alleviating the shortage but also contributing to the overall economic health of our community." For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.