(Area) Several child care centers in Guthrie, Montgomery and Union counties recently received Child Care Grants.
Exploration Learning Station in Stuart was awarded $58,874. The Exploration Learning Station expansion project will add a secondary location and 36 additional slots for children at the facility. The additional space will also create a much more open environment for children and staff to inhabit. Infants and toddlers will be the focus at the new location, which allows for separation of age groups and the ability for staff to prioritize tasks.
Little Panther Daycare in Panora was awarded $230,610. Little Panther Daycare is building a 1,440 square feet addition to their current facility. It will increase overall capacity by 15 children. This will assist in getting additional families into the daycare and off the waiting list.
Panorama Daycare Center in Panora was awarded $450,000. This project partnership will form to create Panorama Daycare Center LCC. Purchase and renovation of an existing building into a licensed childcare center. When at max capacity, will add 80 additional daycare openings in Panora. A tiered opening approach as construction allows would open by the summer of 2022 and grow to max capacity by the end of the year
Little Charger Early Learning Center in Guthrie Center was awarded $449,850. Little Charger Early Learning Center is the only licensed childcare provider in Guthrie Center and is currently licensed for 30 children within the building and 15 children at the school for before and after school care. Funding will support work on a new building on an adjacent property, increasing capacity from 45 to 77 and allowing them to have before/after school program within their own building. The main goal of the project is to create a community asset that will help local employers be able to attract and retain employees (including adding 10-12 new jobs at the center) to create a stable workforce, drive community growth, and reverse a two-year trend of significant enrollment decline in our school district.
The Stanton Child Resource Center in Stanton was awarded $489,167. This project will expand all current classrooms, add a sick room and enhanced security.
Matura Corporation in Creston was awarded $250,000. The Greater Connections Childhood Development Center will be a 14,000 sq ft childcare facility to serve the entire county of 12,500 people. This facility will replace the aging and undersized childcare facility with a new structure located in northwest Creston. The new facility will house 13 classrooms for infancy and up, which will also facilitate the establishment of Early Head Start in the county. The grant will assist with the furniture, fixtures, and equipment elements of the project, as the building itself is already funded and under construction. Anticipated outcomes include the provision of quality education of 178 children at one time in a safe and comfortable environment in a location suitable to client families so that children are ready for school.
