Early Childhood Development Center at Shimer Square
In a strategic move to foster job creation, community growth, and development, GROWTH, at the request of the City of Mount Carroll, embarked to develop a high-quality childhood development center adjacent to new housing units within their developing campus. This initiative aimed not only to provide convenient childcare solutions for residents but also to create opportunities for easy access to quality childcare.
To realize this vision, GROWTH applied for funding from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Community Services (OCS) through its Community Economic Development (CED) program. In October 2022, GROWTH was awarded the maximum $800,000 grant towards the development. This accomplishment was particularly notable as GROWTH was the grantee from the state of Illinois for the fiscal year. The significance of this project further resonated in 2023 when GROWTH, in collaboration with the City of Mount Carroll, undertook a comprehensive feasibility study to assess the feasibility and need of establishing an early childhood development center for families living within a 30-minute radius of Mount Carroll. The results of the study indicated a strong demand for such a facility, underscoring the relevance of such an institution within the Shimer Square campus. Now in 2024, beyond the $800,000, GROWTH has an additional $400,000 bank loan, and has received a financial commitment by the City of Mount Carroll for $376,000 to develop the early childhood development center. Plans have expanded the site to encompass a more preferred child/square foot ratio and exceeds 5,000 SF. A Request for Proposal for an Operator will be published in April. Construction will start in May 2024. Completion will be no later than July 2025. |
The childhood development center at Shimer Square will house a brand new, early childcare facility, create new jobs, and help working families address an existing barrier by having access to childcare within Mount Carroll, IL. After meticulous evaluation considering various factors such as costs, available funding, and timing, the site for the center underwent thorough consideration. Ultimately, it was decided that constructing a new facility within the Shimer Square campus would be the most viable option. This decision was reached with careful deliberation, ensuring that the childhood early development center could be established efficiently, effectively meeting the community's needs.
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Childcare Feasibility Study
In January 2023, GROWTH, in partnership with the City of Mount Carroll, sought to conduct a childcare feasibility study to justify the childcare needs of the community. The market study would fully quantify need within Carroll County and is a prerequisite to partnering with an operator. At the request of GROWTH, the City of Mount Carroll agreed to fund the required market study early in 2023 and GROWTH commissioned Triangle 2 Solutions, an experienced childcare center market analyst, to investigate the potential services and physical space that will be needed for a new childcare center and early childhood programs to serve the area.
The feasibility study produced concrete detail on demand, projected participants, pricing, and desirable amenities and features. An executive summary of the feasibility study shows a very strong indication and comprehensive picture of the current and forecasted demand for childcare services and that Shimer Square fit the market for a childcare center to serve residents living within a 30-minute radius.
The study strongly supports the development of a childcare center with results received by primary care providers of children ages 0 to 10, summarized below:
The feasibility study produced concrete detail on demand, projected participants, pricing, and desirable amenities and features. An executive summary of the feasibility study shows a very strong indication and comprehensive picture of the current and forecasted demand for childcare services and that Shimer Square fit the market for a childcare center to serve residents living within a 30-minute radius.
The study strongly supports the development of a childcare center with results received by primary care providers of children ages 0 to 10, summarized below:
- 402 completed phone interviews
- 130 online surveys
- A very high majority of the responses found the Shimer Square location to be very or somewhat convenient by the survey respondents
- Equally high interest in full-day childcare/preschool at Shimer Square
- The study also showed the most important elements in choosing a daycare are the quality of staff, price, and location.
- Click here to view the Executive Summary.