Jefferson County Kids plans to start construction

FAIRFIELD - Jefferson County Kids announced that it plans to begin construction this summer on its proposed 14,000-square-foot child care facility in Fairfield that could offer space to 185 children.

The child care board learned last week it had received $365,600 in a Child Care Challenge Grant from the state. The money will go toward classroom equipment, supplies and playground materials. Josh Laraby, Fairfield Economic Development Association executive director and member of Jefferson County Kids, said the playground materials could include playground surfacing and sun shades, among other things.

'This will allow us to provide developmentally appropriate and quality classroom equipment and supplies,” Laraby said.

Laraby said it's too soon to say when the child care center, to be located west of the Jefferson County Health Center on Libertyville Road, will open, but he's glad to know that enough funding has been secured to begin construction.

Laraby said he believes Jefferson County Kids received the grant in part because of its ability to leverage the participation of local employers, several of which have donated tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to the project. Laraby said the board owes a special debt of gratitude to Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson, who serves Jefferson, Iowa and Keokuk counties through Early Childhood Iowa. Laraby said Wetjen-Kesterson worked quickly to prepare a budget for the board, allowing it to apply for this grant.

Laraby said the grant is evidence that the state recognizes the need for child care and its importance to a healthy economy.

Laraby got other good news last week when he learned he was appointed to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds's task force on child care. Laraby joins 16 other members of the task force, whose subcommittees will meet on a weekly basis starting in April to prepare a list of recommendations to the governor. The task force has been given 100 days to prepare its report.

Fairfield's economic development director said he was chosen as a representative of employer/economic development leaders in the state. He and the other members of the task force will address the barriers to child care in Iowa and develop a strategy to overcome them. He said most if not all of his meetings will be held online.