FD childcare center awarded $50,000
Grant presented by Iowa Women’s Foundation
Trending
The new Sprouts Early Education & Development School in Fort Dodge recently received a $50,000 grant.
The Iowa Women's Foundation awarded the money to the school, which opened its doors to its first students in June.
"We were really excited to get that," said Elizabeth Stanek, executive director of Linking Families and Communities, the organization which owns and operates the school. "That was really competitive."
She said the money will be used to "help support Sprouts in its first year." It will help to pay for the administrator's salary, curriculum and staff training.
The school in the former Becker Florist facility at 407 Kenyon Road was opened to create more child care opportunities in the Fort Dodge area, where there are often three children in need of care for every opening in a facility. Establishing it was a goal of Stanek and the board of Linking Families and Communities for years.
The building was purchased in January 2024 from Kenyon Road Baptist Church. After renovations, it was opened to students in June.
"We are taking enrollment," Stanek said. "We encourage people to apply.'
The school can accommodate 71 children.
It is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
There is a staff of eight to 12 people, including a cook.