The newest preschool in Fort Dodge will welcome its first visitors this morning.

The Sprouts Early Education and Development School at 407 Kenyon Road occupies a building many remember as a Becker Florist shop.

A newly announced $200,000 grant from Cargill was a key element in paying for the conversion of the building into a school.

“At Cargill, we know strong businesses are built on strong communities,” Sydney Pokorny, the Cargill Fort Dodge facility manager, said in a written statement. “Access to childcare remains one of the biggest challenges facing working families today, and it plays an important role in workforce participation and economic growth.”

“We’re proud to partner with Linking Families & Communities and other leaders in Fort Dodge to help bring this center to life and increase access to childcare for families in this community,” she added.

Linking Families & Communities is the Fort Dodge organization that established the school. Elizabeth Stanek, the group’s executive director, said the Cargill donation “helped make it possible.”

“It was a significant donation and we are extremely grateful,” she said Friday. “We are really excited and thankful to the folks that helped make this happen.”

In addition to the Cargill gift, the financing package for the project included a loan from the city of Fort Dodge economic development revolving loan fund, a grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and a gift from Nestle Purina PetCare.

Linking Families & Communities bought the building from Kenyon Road Baptist Church in January 2024. Renovations finally began early this year.

An open house and ribbon cutting will begin at 9 a.m. this morning.

Stanek said anyone interested in enrolling their child in the school can call 515-515- 5434 or visit www.seedsfd.com.