Construction crews are busy turning the old Becker Florist location at 407 Kenyon Road into the Sprouts Early Education and Development School.

The center will likely open this summer, according to Elizabeth Stanek, the executive director of Linking Families and Communities, the organization planning and developing the new facility.

“This has been in the works in some form or another since before COVID,” she said. “It has been a real feat of patience and perseverance to get it to this point. We’re just happy to be in this position.”

Stanek said Fort Dodge and Webster County have good childcare providers, but there simply isn’t enough of them. The new center, which she often refers to by the acronym SEEDS, is intended to help address the shortage.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
This building at 407 Kenyon Road is being renovated to become the Sprouts Early Education and Development School. Expected to open this summer, the school is licensed for 71 children between the ages of 6 weeks and 12 years old.

“We’re aiming for a high quality childcare center that will be partnering with parents,” she said. “We’re trying to help parents raise good kids, great citizens, and leaders.”

The financing for the center includes $750,000 from a Fort Dodge city economic development revolving loan fund, a $600,000 grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and a $25,000 donation from Nestle Purina PetCare.

Linking Families and Communities bought the building in January 2024 from the Kenyon Road Baptist Church.

Renovations started last week with the installation of a new roof. Some work is also being done on the block wall on the building’s west side. Stanek said interior renovations will start next week.

The Sprouts school is licensed for 71 children between the ages of six weeks and 12 years old, according to Stanek.

The tentative school schedule is 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The school will have a staff of eight to 12 employees.

Donations are still being accepted to finance the Sprouts Early Education and Development School. To donate, call Linking Families and Communities at 515-955-5437 or email Elizabeth Stanek at estanek@linkingfamilies.com.