Libertyville Savings Bank pledges $50,000 toward child care center

Libertyville Savings Bank, has joined ranks with Jefferson County Kids to bring its future child care center a step closer by pledging $50,000 toward the project.

Jill Burnett, CEO of Libertyville Saving Banks said, 'As a locally owned and operated bank, we are committed to supporting the needs of our communities. We know child care has been an issue in Jefferson County for some time and this project will benefit Fairfield and all of Jefferson County. We feel fortunate to be able to support the project.”

This pledge, along with pledges from individuals in the last month, raises fundraising efforts to $2.7 million of the $3.5 million capital campaign goal.

Teri Bockting, Vice President of the Jefferson County Kids board of directors, said, 'The Jefferson County Kids board of directors would like to thank Libertyville Savings Bank for their contribution to building a new child care center in Fairfield. This generous support will assist in developing a new early childhood learning center to teach and grow the area's youngest residents. We're excited to offer additional quality child care to parents and caregivers in order to give them the ability to be part of a successful workforce to grow our local economies. We truly appreciate the commitment and partnership of Libertyville Savings Bank to serve Fairfield and Jefferson County.”

In addition to fundraising, the Jefferson County Kids board of directors are also progressing through predevelopment work and continue to strive for a 2021 opening of the center.

Fairfield Economic Development Association, Executive Director, Joshua Laraby stated, 'In addition to fundraising, the board of directors are working diligently ‘with all hands on deck' on financing, environmental site work and predevelopment planning to bring the new center to fruition. It takes strong partnerships like this one with Libertyville Savings Bank to continue to galvanize the project and make it a reality.”

Laraby said the coronavirus has slowed the rate at which the board expected to complete its capital campaign. At the same time, he said the board is appreciative of how supportive the business community has been. He knows it's not been easy for businesses to donate, either, because many have been negatively affected by the virus.

'It's important for us that businesses prioritize their own needs first,” he said. 'We're being aware and respectful of the business climate. And we're still very pleased with where the capital campaign is.”

Laraby said that though the coronavirus has delayed the project, it has not altered its scope. The board still is planning to build a 14,000-square-foot facility which can hold up to 185 children at its peak.

The board has already obtained the necessary permits from the city, which annexed the land the future child care center sits on along Libertyville Road in January of this year. Only a few hurdles remain, such as completing environmental review and working through the lengthy and intense application for a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan.

Jefferson County Kids, Inc. is 501(c) (3) tax-deductible and a charitable non-profit corporation.