Jefferson County Capital Campaign

Child Care
in Fairfield Iowa

Cambridge Little Achievers Child Care Center

Funded, Built & Open!

Thank you!

Cambridge Little Achievers Center Celebrates Ribbon Cutting, Opens January 16

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Cambridge Little Achievers Center (Jefferson County Kids, Inc.) celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with its donors and project partners with over 90 attendees, including Director Beth Townsend from Iowa Workforce Development.

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$4.8 Million Raised

Over 40 businesses, organizations and individuals brought this new center to fruition!

Progress Toward $4.8 Million Fundraising Goal
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Childcare initiative infographic

The Issue

Feeling the Pain & Solving the Problem

In 2017, Fairfield Economic Development Association (Grow Fairfield) & Early Childhood Iowa Iowa/Jefferson/Keokuk Counties (ECI), Cambridge, the Fairfield Community School District and Pathfinders RC&D pulled together 50 businesses and community leaders from 30 organizations raised $4.8 million to build Cambridge Little Achievers Child Care Center.

Opened in Fairfield in January 2023

The Plan

6 Step Action Plan

  • Step 1.
    Engagement Through Public-Private Partnerships

    • 22 person Jefferson County Child Care Steering Committee was formed. It included executives from business, economic development, the school district, child care agencies and elected officials.
    • The purpose of the Steering Committee was to provide oversight for assessing the need, implementing the Strategic Plan, ongoing evaluation of the plan, provide approval of ECI expansion/startup grants and share updates with community.

  • Step 2.
    Assessing the Need

    The Steering Committee recommended a child care market study be conducted. First Children’s Finance was contracted to conduct the study. ECI funded the study giving the Steering Committee oversight of the design and implementation.

    • Surveyed 438 employees/parents and 10 businesses
    • Findings were 539 child care spaces short in Jefferson County
    • 70% of employers identified issues with productivity and or absenteeism related to child care
    • 40% of employers identified having challenges hiring employees related to child care challenges
    • 60 % of parents identified having trouble finding child care
    • 66% of parents have reported missing work related to child care

  • Step 3.
    Strategic Plan - Data Driven Decisions

    • Assist current center-based providers in expanding
    • Assist new and existing home-based providers with startup and expansions
    • Add another child care center to Fairfield

  • Step 4.
    Innovative Solutions

    • Startup and Expansion Grant Program created for center-based providers. Funded by ECI, oversaw by the Steering Committee, and administered by CCR&R
    • Registered Home Provider Incentive Program created – new and current home providers. Funded and administered by ECI, and oversaw by the Steering Committee
    • Form an independent Non-Profit Corporation – led by FEDA, ECI, and business executives- plans to add a new child care center to Fairfield

  • Step 5.
    Measurable Results

    • Assisted 3 child care centers in expanding with ECI Funds$ 21,000/ impacted 50 spaces $420/per space
    • New Child care home provider incentive program, 5 new providers (56 new spaces)
    • Current child care home provider incentive program, 3 new providers (40 new retained)
      • Adding a 185-space new child care center – aimed to be funded by the business community. $4.8M Capital Campaign for construction and $4.8 currently pledged
      • 3.5-acre site donated

  • Step 6.
    Future

    • February 2020 – fundraising begins
    • Spring 2022 construction begins
    • January 2023, child care facility opens/begins operations
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