Ground broken on $2M childcare facility in Carroll County
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Officials in Carroll County on Friday marked the beginning of construction on a $2 million childcare facility in the town of Flora.
Developed by childcare provider Childrens Garden, the new facility will add 85 childcare seats in the county, which ranks among the lowest in Indiana for childcare accessibility.
The Carroll County Economic Development Corp. the goal is to obtain a Level 4 Path to Quality designation from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the highest rating for early care and education quality.
“We are excited to see this important project move forward,” said Jacob Adams, executive director of the Carroll County EDC. “Accessible childcare is vital for the economic growth and well-being of our community. We commend Childrens Garden for their dedication to addressing this need and are proud to support their efforts.”
In its “Closing the Gap” reports over the last two years, Early Learning Indiana ranked Carroll County 91st in the state in the percent of children able to be served with high-quality care. Only Switzerland County had a lower ranking.
The project is being supported by the EDC, Purdue University and Lilly Endowment Inc.
The EDC said the new facility will be a “game-changer” for the community. In addition to serving more children, the project will add 20 jobs.
“We are thrilled to embark on this journey towards enhancing childcare accessibility in Carroll County,” said Samantha Miller, Director of Childrens Garden. “Our new facility will not only expand capacity but also elevate the standard of care available to families. We are deeply grateful for the support of our partners and look forward to making a positive impact in the lives of children and parents in our community.”
The new childcare center is expected to open in the spring of 2025.