SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - A donated bank building is the foundation of a new childcare center planned for Shelby County, with community fundraising already reaching $700,000.
Kenny Schwengel, board chairman of the Shelby County Childcare Consortium, said the group had previously been looking at new construction on a donated five-acre site on the west side of town.
"We were probably looking at about a $4.5 million project to build something new," Schwengel said. "And with this building and the donation from First Federal, it allowed us, with the remodel, to be a $1 to $1.2 million renovation cost."
The Shelby County Childcare Consortium was started by a group of concerned community members, who noticed many families in the area struggling to find affordable, quality childcare. As an educator and grandparent, Schwengel knew a new childcare center could benefit many families.
All funding raised to date has come from local sources. Schwengel said the $700,000 raised so far covers startup, maintenance, and ongoing costs. But the group is still looking to cover the full cost of renovations.
While the building is well built with a solid exterior, there is some work to be done to change the former bank into a child's paradise.
"We're thinking it's probably a four to six month process," Schwengel said. "Now that we're in the process where we have a building and people see that it's real, it's going to happen, I think we'll get more donations and more people excited about it."
The Shelby County Childcare Consortium is working on creating a website and other ways to connect with the community for fundraising and building updates.
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