Learning center gets another grant

A new month, a new grant.

Westminster Preschools announced Wednesday that the State of Indiana Family of Social Services Office has awarded it $741,949 through the Childcare Expansion Grant program to fund the planned Jay County Early Learning Center.

“We are thrilled to see this project come to fruition, and so pleased to be a part of it,” said Westminster executive director Danielle Svantner in a press release. “We believe this new funding further strengthens the partnership between the community and Westminster Preschools as we move forward together to see this vision come to life.”

The grant was part of a total of just over $8.7 million awarded in Indiana.

Westminster Preschools was one of 21 organizations selected for the grant funding out of more than 2,000 applications. It was one of 14 grants provided to create new programs in underserved areas of the state.

“This Child Care Expansion Grant will help high-quality providers grow their businesses and serve more children and families, particularly in underserved areas of Indiana, or expand availability to priority age groups where care is often hardest to find,” said Courtney Penn of the Family and Social Service Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning in a press release. "The first five years of a child’s life are the most significant to build a strong foundation for future success. We are always looking for opportunities such as this to partner with providers to serve hard-working Hoosier families.”

The Portland Foundation announced Oct. 31 that it received a $50,000 grant from Ball Brothers Foundation of Muncie for the same project. In September, it was awarded a $432,500 Early Years Initiative grant from Early Learning Indiana for renovation, equipment and supplies.

“It’s phenomenal assistance on making the project a reality,” said Inman. “Between Westminster and the foundation, we’ve written four grants and received all four. It’s just a testament to the need and the importance of the project.”

In 2022, The Portland Foundation purchased the former Judge Haynes Elementary School, 827 W. High St., Portland, with the goal of converting it into an early learning center. Executive director Doug Inman announced during the foundation’s annual meeting in May that it had entered into an agreement with Westminster, based in Marion, to operate Jay County Early Learning Center.

The nearly three-quarters of a million dollars from the Childcare Expansion Grant will go toward renovating the building and updating the playground. Funds were also awarded for classroom supplies, curriculum training and implementation, accreditation fees and workforce development. (The Ball Brothers Foundation grant was also for renovation and expansion of the playground.)

A press release from Westminster said the funding will “help build the best state of the art, high-quality early childhood program.”

All environmental remediation — removing asbestos, mold and lead paint — has been completed for the project and demolition of the west wing of the building, which had extensive roof damage that led to water leaks, is underway. The next step will be to install a new roof on the remainder of the structure, with that work expected to begin in mid-November.

The Portland Foundation has already put out the call for bids for a general contractor for the renovation of the building. The project is projected at $3.5 million, with the foundation to use its reserves to handle any costs not covered by grants.

When complete, it is planned to serve 150 newborns through 5-year-old children.