A daycare facility in Greene County recently announced an update to its new building project.

According to the Paton-Churdan Early Learning Center Board, they are continuing to fundraise the remaining amount of $430,000 of a $2 million new permanent modular building near the Paton-Churdan School District parking lot. 

However, the Board determined that to keep within the timeline of some of the stipulations with the $600,000 matching grant from the Community Development Block Grant from Iowa Economic Development Authority to get the new structure built prior to the start of the 2026-27 school year, all funding needs to be secured by April 1st. Other funding sources that have stepped up include Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation with its two-year pledge of for a total of $400,000, Greene County Board of Supervisors with $180,000 over five years, as well as businesses and individuals.  

The Board also made the decision that if the rest of the funding can’t be secured by April 1st, then the current facility will be closed for the foreseeable future. The caveat the Board touted was that if funding is secured by April 1st, then the current building will continue to stay open until they can transition into the new structure.

Board President Cassie Fiedler is appreciative with the support of PCSD, as they continue to work together on this project and the agreement their Board and school district made to lease a pre-kindergarten classroom from them. 

“I think that the Paton-Churdan School District is great. Trying to think outside the box and make things happen and make things work. And so, it was really just us coming together with our Board and them and talking through, how can we make this work?”   

The Board states that the new facility would expand their capacity to over 75 children, double the number of rooms from three to six, along with modern safety features, energy-efficient systems, a commercial kitchen and full compliance with state childcare regulations. The project would take three to four months to build, as opposed to a stick structure that would take 14-18 months and cost between $2.6 and $2.8 million.

The PCELC Board points out that if the center were to close, 23 families accounting for 45 kids would lose their childcare and 14 staff would be out of their jobs. The Board is hopeful to get help from the communities to keep their daycare open. To make a pledge, contact Director Whitney Minnehan at 515-389-3129 or email her at pcelec.director@gmail.com. Tax-free donations can also be made at United Bank in Churdan.