Groundbreaking held for new Early Learning Center – Journal Review
Groundbreaking held for new Early Learning Center Journal Review
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Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Construction of Montgomery County Early Learning Center
By Tina McGrady | tmcgrady@jrpress.com
The Transformative Project
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the beginning of construction and renovation for the new Montgomery County Early Learning Center. Kelly Taylor, CEO of the Montgomery County Community Foundation (MCCF), described the project as the most transformative endeavor the foundation has ever been involved in.
Importance of Childcare for Workforce Participation
Taylor emphasized that access to reliable childcare services enables parents, especially mothers, to fully participate in the workforce. She stated that when parents have access to childcare, they can pursue employment opportunities, advance their careers, and contribute to the economy without compromising their children’s well-being. This increased workforce participation not only boosts individual household incomes but also drives productivity and economic growth for the community.
New Center Details
The new Montgomery County Early Learning Center, with a budget of $5 million, will provide 124 high-quality childcare seats for infants through age five. The center will be located in the former county government office building at 110 W. South Blvd. The 6,700 square foot building will undergo complete remodeling, including an additional 8,000 square feet added on the east and west sides. Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday.
Meeting Quality Standards
The center will be equipped with furnishings, equipment, and safety upgrades to meet Paths to Quality Level 4 and accreditation standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Partnership with KinderCare
KinderCare, a company with over 50 years of experience in early childhood care and education, has been selected to operate the Early Learning Center. Patrick Murray, KinderCare vice president, expressed excitement about partnering with MCCF, regional employers, and the families of Crawfordsville to increase access to quality childcare and early learning. He believes this partnership and the leadership shown by MCCF will serve as a model for other communities nationwide.
Addressing Childcare Needs
The initiative for the Early Learning Center began in 2019 with the formation of a childcare task force consisting of representatives from local government, employers, providers, parents, schools, and non-profit organizations. The task force was established to address the lack of high-quality childcare in the community. Currently, available providers can only serve less than 20% of children under the age of five with high-quality care, which has significant implications for employers, employees, families, and the community.
Impact on Economic Development
John Frey, president of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, highlighted the economic development aspect of childcare. He explained that when parents lack access to childcare, they are unable to work and provide for their families. This situation negatively affects local businesses and industries. By investing in high-quality early education, the community is not only addressing these issues but also developing its future workforce.
Future Leaders and Potential
Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton emphasized the importance of childcare for economic and community development. He stated that the new center will supply the future workforce and potentially educate the future leaders of the community. Barton expressed excitement about the potential that exists within the new center, including the possibility of future county commissioners, mayors, industry leaders, governors, or even presidents.
Partnerships for Sustainable Solutions
The $5 million investment in the Early Learning Center was made possible through partnerships between businesses, government entities, and philanthropic organizations. These partnerships aim to create long-term, sustainable solutions to address the critical need for additional high-quality childcare. The partners involved in this endeavor include Acuity Lighting, City of Crawfordsville, DES Engineering, Early Learning Indiana, Hoosier Heartland State Bank, Lakeside Book Company, Montgomery County government, MCCF, North Central Health Services, Nucor, Penguin Random House, State of Indiana, Tempur Sealy, Tipmont, Tri-County Bank & Trust, and Wabash College.
Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton concluded by quoting Nelson Mandela: “History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children.” He expressed confidence that history will look kindly upon the transformative project.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.
- SDG 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family.
- SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of high-quality childcare seats provided (indicator for SDG 4.2)
- Increased workforce participation of parents, especially mothers (indicator for SDG 5.4)
- Expansion of the labor force and economic growth in the community (indicator for SDG 8.5)
- Percentage of children under the age of five with access to high-quality care (indicator for SDG 10.2)
- Number of partnerships between businesses, government, and philanthropy to address the need for high-quality childcare (indicator for SDG 17.17)
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education. | Number of high-quality childcare seats provided |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family. | Increased workforce participation of parents, especially mothers |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. | Expansion of the labor force and economic growth in the community |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Percentage of children under the age of five with access to high-quality care |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | Number of partnerships between businesses, government, and philanthropy to address the need for high-quality childcare |
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Source: journalreview.com
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