Mount Vernon-Lisbon Childcare Solutions raised $31,522.72 during October and November, meaning with the state’s 2 to 1 matching grant funds, the community benefitted an additional $63,045.44. That additional money needs to be spent by September 30 of this year.
Renee Virlee, president of the MVL Childcare Solutions group, said the first distribution of retention bonuses were made to Lisbon Early Childcare workers, roughly $16,231.15.
Virlee said the committee is focusing on the sustainability of the child care solutions fund.
“We are intentional about creating a permanent sustainable fund for the community,” Virlee said. “Our fundraising committee is targeting short and long-term fundraising goals.”
Those goals include
• active solicitation of private sustainability-focused donations and pledges from individuals, businesses, and private foundations
• regular and continuous communications with area business leaders and private donors regarding the impact of their investment (including data related to child care slots)
• working closely with our city mayors and city councils to explore use of TIF and other available resources
• exploring partnerships, collaborations and funding opportunities with local and national foundations, organizations and the 10 other wage enhancement program communities
• searching for grant opportunities, and more
Additional goals include:
• building new and expanding existing child care centers
• supporting child care entrepreneurs
• supporting before- and after-school programming
• encouraging local businesses to expand and/or add child care benefits
• spreading awareness of CAREforce for our WORKforce campaign
• encouraging communication with elected officials on why child care is essential
• sharing your story – to help inform our efforts and raise awareness for our cause
Virlee noted that while the funds were sought in October of this past year to meet the matching grants, they want this to be a continued effort.
“It’s important that we have continued investments and donations to ensure the positive impact of the childcare solutions fund beyond this September,” Virlee said.
If community members would like to donate to the fund, they can do mail donations to Southeast Linn Community Center at P.O. Box 511, Lisbon, Iowa 52253 or online at SELinn.org. Funds should be designated “Child Care Solutions.”
Board members for the childcare solutions group include: Katrina Anderson, Linda Bigley, Rick Elliott, Nicole McAlexander, Connie Meier, Autumn Pino, Michele Thomsen, Renee Virlee and Carol Wozniak-Rebhuhn.
Committee members include: Stefanie Bray, Jane Carlson, Carol Daly, Craig Engel, Colette Nakielski, Tom Wieseler and Megan Yaminishi.
During the spring of 2022, the League of Women Voters of Mount Vernon-Lisbon conducted a survey to determine the need for child care in the community. A key finding of the survey was that only 43.1% of the families that responded were able to “find affordable, quality child care that meets our family’s needs.”
In November, the League brought in the Iowa Women’s Foundation to hold a community meeting that focused on finding solutions. From that meeting a broad group of residents agreed to work on the issue and four committees were formed and continue to hold regular meetings. The committees are: Building and Expanding Existing Child Care, Child Care Entrepreneurs, Business and Community Colleges and Child Care, and Before and After School Care. As a means of coordinating efforts, the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Child Care Solutions group (MVLCCS) formed to serve as the board, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Southeast Linn Community Center to act as the fiscal agent.