New Child Care Center Update: Current funding & Call to Action

Sunflower’s Fundraising Committee has secured more than $4,300,000 in donations thus far along with 4 acres of donated land from Winneshiek Medical Center for the new Child Development and Discovery Center. The Committee is currently pursuing $2,000,000 in grants but needs to raise $3,000,000 in further community donations before breaking ground in 2022. The Winneshiek County Development and Tourism team, along with many volunteers, have been leveraging local contributions to use with the required private, state and federal grant match opportunities. But, we still need your help -- now is the time! Donations can either be one-time gifts or pledges spread over 5 years to help make giving more affordable. Help us get there before fall is gone - donate online at decorahdiscovery.org or by contacting Stephanie Fromm at 563-382-6061 for a pledge form. 

There are many important projects happening in the area right now, but the importance of child care is likely at the core of every single one of them - if we don’t have children in our community, we don’t have parents, families and ultimately a workforce. Schools are the core of our community - teachers are creating the next generation.  Let’s create a culture of learning and be the most family-friendly county in the midwest.

Many families are trying to move to Winneshiek County to accept positions at local businesses, but when there is no place available to enroll their children during the workday, it creates a barrier. In-home providers as well as centers are overwhelmed with phone calls; frantic voices on the other end begging for anyone to take their children for the day. Families are forced to choose between working or not, living here or not, traveling out of the state for employment versus staying local. 

Over the next few weeks, the team plans to share more information about Sunflower and their attempt to be trailblazers in the child care industry. Sunflower’s project has not only gained attention from Debi Durham, Executive Director of Iowa Economic Development Authority, but also Governor Kim Reynolds, both of whom have visited and toured the current, aged Sunflower facility. This local project is being recognized as an innovative approach to solving the child care crisis. Stay tuned, because it’s going to be good…

Donate today at DecorahDiscovery.org, contact Stephanie Fromm (563-382-6061) for a pledge form, or contact your retirement representative today to donate to Sunflower Child Care Center (a registered 501c3 non-profit) directly from your IRA!