New Childcare Center Coming to Dyersville’s 20 West Industrial Park
$4.5 Million Raised Already, Public Fundraising Campaign Underway for Final $1 Million
A new childcare center will be built on the west edge of Dyersville, with a public campaign kicking off Thursday to help make it a reality.
The Dyersville Economic Development Corporation and Dyersville Area Community Foundation hosted a press conference at the future lot in the 20 West Industrial Park on Thursday morning, with city officials, community members and supporters gathering to celebrate the new project.
Campaign Chair Dave Schroeder says childcare is a big need in the area.
Thanks to their generous donation, the new facility will be called the Michael & Jean Knepper Child Care Center. Michael Knepper, a Worthington native who now lives in Dyersville, says the new center will be a wonderful addition to the community.
The new childcare center will be a 17,500 square foot facility with the capability to hold up to 250 children. It will feature an 1,800 square foot multipurpose room/gymnasium, an ample playground and green space – and the entire building will be storm proof. It will be located just south of the new Ancient Brands Milling facility, which sits on the far west edge of the industrial park’s current development.
The new childcare center will be operated and eventually owned by The Kid Project, which will eventually close and sell their current building in Dyersville near the hospital. The goal will be to keep the rates affordable and within the average rates for childcare in Dubuque and Delaware counties. Children from Dyersville and the surrounding area will be welcome to attend, even as far as Manchester. And Schroeder says at the very earliest, the new childcare center could be open by next fall.
Four and a half million dollars has already been raised – and they need your help to raise the final one million dollars. The campaign officially went public on Thursday. If you’d like to be a donor, reach out to Dave Schroeder at 563-564-0934 or the Dyersville Economic Development office at 875-2311.
photos courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH
