Hard opens new childcare centre for toddlers

The municipality of Hard has opened a new childcare centre for young children in Bommen, ORF reported. The centre, called Seesternchen, was inaugurated after a long planning and construction process, with families, municipal politicians, planning offices and contractors attending.

The municipality said the rooms are designed for young children, with spaces for play and rest. The design includes wood and regional products.

Hard invested about five million euros in the project, with financial support from the state of Vorarlberg. At the opening, Mayor Martin Staudinger said childcare places were important for balancing family and work. He said women were particularly affected by a lack of places because they more often take parental leave or work part-time.

Municipal figures show that 61.5 percent of children under four in Hard attended a childcare facility in 2024, up from 53.9 percent in 2018. The municipality said this was higher than the rates in Wolfurt, at 57.3 percent, Lustenau, at 56.8 percent, and Lauterach, at 45.5 percent.

For children aged four to six, Hard reported a childcare rate of 105.9 percent. The municipality said the figure exceeds 100 percent because some children continue attending their usual facility after moving away.