(Walnut) A new childcare facility is moving forward in Walnut after the Southwest Iowa Planning Council secured a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant for the project. The center will operate as Play Haven, a new 501(c)(3), and be housed in one wing of the Peace Haven Retirement Home. The $1.03 million project also includes a $500,000 grant from the Lakin Foundation, with additional fundraising underway to cover remaining costs.
Walnut currently has only one in-home daycare to serve about 85 children under age 10, and Pottawattamie County faces a shortage of nearly 6,942 childcare slots. The Play Haven facility will serve up to 65 children. The center is expected to create 10–12 jobs.
Access to local childcare is expected to reduce long commutes for families, support workforce participation, and contribute to community growth. SWIPCO says it is proud to support the project, noting it recently helped fund a similar facility in Malvern.
