Tyson Foods’ Learning Daycare Center

Challenges

Scalability, Worker Issues

Location

Tennessee

Stakeholders

Businesses

Beneficiaries

Parents, Children

Overview

Tyson Foods has operated the Tyson Learning Center since 2023, providing affordable, around-the-clock care for employees’ children.

Key Impact Metrics

100+
childcare slots created
$650K
in childcare subsidies provided per year
$150K
grant offered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services

Problem

Tyson Foods was cognizant of the critical shortage of affordable and accessible quality childcare in the rural area of Humboldt, Tennessee. This scarcity directly impeded Tyson's ability to attract and retain a stable frontline workforce. The company also noticed cost was a big factor, citing that the average price of childcare in the area was $11,000 in 2022, consuming more than 10% of the average income of parents.

Solution

Tyson partnered with Kindercare to open the Tyson’s Learning Center in 2023, offering comprehensive care for children from six weeks to five years old. Importantly, the center's hours (4:00 a.m. to 6:30p.m., Monday through Friday) accommodate workers’ shifts. The center offers a high-quality curriculum and pays childcare teachers competitive wages to ensure staffing stability and quality.

Results

Beneficiary Impact100 children served
Employee Impact20 childcare staff employed
Financial Results$6,500 in childcare subsidies per child per year

Replication Tips

Leverage available government grants: Explore local, state, or federal grants and tax credits designed to support employer-provided childcare. Tyson received a $150,000 Establishment Grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Align with workforce schedules: If you have shift or 24-hour operations, design childcare to cover those hours. Tyson kept TLC open nights and early mornings to match plant shifts—a critical feature. Survey your employees to find out what hours they need, and partner with a provider capable of staffing those times.