Ongoing efforts to bolster local child care access received a significant boost this week with the announcement that nearly $2 million in new state funding is going toward Dubuque-area projects.
The funds are part of a statewide rollout of $14 million included in the latest round of the Child Care Business Incentive Grant program. The funding is expected to create 875 new child care slots across Iowa, roughly 160 of which will be available in the greater Dubuque area.
“Our strategy for retaining the best workers must include creative ways to meet their child care needs,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a Monday news release announcing the funds. “Today’s awards represent Iowa’s commitment to that strategy, and I’m excited to see what these organizations do to provide solutions for their individual communities.”
The newly announced grants include expanded funding for some previous awardees of the state-supported program, as well as funding for new projects dubbed “2.0 projects.”
Dubuque Childcare Collaborative, a second-time grant recipient, received roughly $845,000 in additional grant funding to add close to 100 new slots to the existing Bright Minds Campus at 7900 Chavenelle Road.
The building is owned by local nonprofit Dubuque Initiatives and already is home to the Dubuque Y Early Learning Center that opened in early 2024 using funds from local businesses and $2.1 million allocated in the first round of the Child Care Business Incentive program.
The campus also houses Dubuque Community Schools’ Seedlings Preschool Center and is the planned site of the new 911 operations center to be shared by the city of Dubuque and Dubuque County.
Kevin Lynch, president of Dubuque Initiatives’ board, said the additional state funding will be used to launch the “second phase” of the early learning center by adding several new classrooms in currently unrenovated space within the building.
He said the goal is to have those slots available by the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, so construction will start imminently.
“We are very excited and very grateful to the governor for allowing us to take the next steps on this project,” Lynch said. “What we’re hearing from the Y is that the need is there, and we’re going to try to meet that call to make it easier for working parents and families in the community.”
Tony Calabrese, president and CEO of Dubuque Community Y, said the new rooms will add an estimated 94 spots for children ages 3 and up. He said the rooms will be constructed with the flexibility for use by different age groups, however, depending on what is most needed.
“We’re trying to think ahead, and this is what we’re projecting that we’ll need in the future,” Calabrese said of the current plans. “Kids come to us as infants, but they usually stay with the program all the way through kindergarten.”
Dyersville Industries also received a second round of funding in the form of $675,000 allocated to cover 25 slots at the recently opened Michael & Jean Knepper Child Care Center in Dyersville.
The 17,560-square-foot facility opened late last year within the city’s industrial park and has space for up to 250 children. It is run by the Kid Project, which has operated a nonprofit child care center in Dyersville for years.
The latest round of funding from the Child Care Business Incentive program brings state contributions for the facility up to $2.43 million, with additional funding having been received from area businesses and individual donors.
“It was really fantastic to hear that we were able to get some more (grant) money for this project,” said Jacque Rahe, executive director of Dyersville Economic Development Corp. “The kids are excited. The parents and teachers are excited. Already, the energy at the center has been so great.”
Area Residential Care in Dubuque received $395,000 in state funding for its collaborative child care project with St. Mark Youth Enrichment. Through that project, St. Mark will repurpose a portion of the ARC facility at 3355 Kennedy Circle into a new early childhood center.
The facility is set to open Sept. 1 and will provide care for 35 children ages 8 weeks through 4 years. St. Mark Youth Enrichment Director of Early Learning Danielle Willis said the center’s curriculum will focus on social-emotional development and nature-based learning.
The facility will include an outdoor, nature-inspired play space, and its teachings will integrate the Growing Up Wild program — an educational program meant to foster environmental awareness and exploration from a young age.
“It’s definitely a twist on early childhood education from what’s been seen in Dubuque so far,” Willis said. “But it can be a great way to learn social-emotional skills in a really natural way and in a way that sparks a lot of creativity.”