Elm Creek Childcare Initiative Aims to Provide More Childcare Options

A new non-profit has formed in Elm Creek to bring childcare services to their rural community, Elm Creek Childcare Initiative (ECCI). After two home childcare providers announced retirements, leaving the community searching for options, the community applied and received Communities for Kids grant. This grant provided planning funds to bring together the school, village, businesses, childcare providers and parents to create a plan to open new childcare options for local families.

To build sustainable early childhood supports from birth to school age, Elm Creek needed a new rural childcare model. By forming a new non-profit, the community will hold a mission in the center of their work; to establish quality, committed, and engaged early childhood care to meet the evolving needs of Elm Creek community. Five community members stepped forward as board members: Katie Brodine, Lacey Williams, Shannon Schmidt, Kyle Crowel, and MacKenzie Stephens

"ECCI is indebted to the Elm Creek community for its continued support. Our collective partnerships with the school, the village, business owners, and community stakeholders have forged a pathway that will lead to a legacy of high-quality childcare in our beloved town. Thank you to Buffalo County Community Partners and Communities for Kids for not only your work on our behalf but also your dedication to our cause. We look forward to providing consistent, high-quality childcare in the months and years ahead.” -ECCI board chairman, -Katie Brodine

Over a year ago, ECCI members signed a memorandum of understanding with the Buffalo County Community Partners to act as their fiscal agent until the new non-profit status was awarded. Starting on July 1, ECCI will separate from Community Partners and operate as an independence non-profit.

Paula Osborne was contracted by Buffalo County Community Partners to support the Elm Creek Initiative. ECCI has been communicating their mission and plan to the community through special events, parades, school activities and more.

In past year, ECCI has acquired a building, secured their 501 c 3 to operate as a non-profit, hired staff and are working to obtain a childcare license as well as secure additional grant funding, with a goal to open a high-quality childcare facility with a licensed capacity of 10-12 children in the coming months.

“We were honored to serve as their fiscal and watch their excitement build and take shape in this community. When you do this work, you know when a community has the ‘grit’ to get the job done and this team is a powerhouse!” stated Denise Zwiener, CEO of Buffalo County Community Partners “We know their community will continue to grow and a focus on early childhood will be here for generations.”