The Paton Churdan Early Learning Center (PCELC) recently received several contributions for a new facility. Aureon Charity Grant awarded $500, $1000 from the Ripple Effect program to match part of the $5,000 from Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association. While they have big plans relocating to a new facility to meet the demand for childcare they are currently focusing on funding items for new classrooms such as furniture, organizational, and storage items for grants.
Meredith Gerhardt, Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, is pictured presenting the check to children at the childcare center, Whitney Minnehan PCELC Director, along with JD Siebert, Aureon.
“Childcare is such an important part of our local work force,” noted Marcie Boerner, CEO/General Manager of Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association. “PCELC provides childcare service to the surrounding areas of Greene, Calhoun and Webster Counties.”
For over two decades PCELC has provided childcare in a portable classroom adjacent to the Paton-Churdan Community School District k-12 building. It was never intended for long term use. Currently employing 14 full and part time staff members, PCELC provides quality early education and care to 45 children and experiencing a waiting list. The new facility will allow them to expand to 80 children, increase from three to six classrooms and a dedicated Pre-K space, fully meet and exceed state childcare regulations including a commercial kitchen, in-room restrooms, handwashing stations, a built-in tornado shelter, and energy efficient HVAC systems.
The Aureon Charity Grant Program was established to increase and support to rural independent telephone companies and the communities they serve. Applications are considered on a quarterly basis and available to organizations within the Webster-Calhoun service area.
Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides Landline Telephone, Digital TV and Internet service to 21 rural communities on a Fiber driven network just outside the Fort Dodge, Iowa area: Pilot Mound, Boxholm, Lanyon, Paton, Churdan, Farnhamville, Gowrie, Somers, Moorland, Knierim, Barnum, Clare, Thor, Badger, Vincent, Duncombe, in the towns of Lohrville, Manson, Rockwell City and Lake City and rural Fort Dodge.
WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association.
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