For over two decades, the Paton Churdan Early Learning Center has provided childcare in a portable classroom building adjacent to the Paton-Churdan Community School District K-12 building. The center currently employs 14 full and part time staff members, providing quality early education and care to 45 children and is experiencing a waiting list.
PCELC has plans to eventually relocate to a new facility, to meet the demand for childcare. The new facility would allow them to expand care to 80 children, increase from three to six classrooms and have 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.
“Childcare is a vital component to the local workforce,” 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 the time being, they are focusing on funding items for new classrooms such as furniture, organizational and storage items.
Webster-Calhoun is proud to announce that PCELC was awarded $6,500 from the Aureon Charity Grant and the Ripple Effect Program. The Aureon Charity Grant awarded $500, $1000 from the Ripple Effect program to match part of the $5,000 from Webster-Calhoun.
Aureon’s Charity Grant and Ripple Effect Program
The Aureon Charity Grant Program provides financial aid to various public and private nonprofit agencies for community-based projects. The program was established to increase service and support to rural independent telecommunications companies and the communities they serve. Applications are considered on a quarterly basis and available to organizations within the Webster-Calhoun service area.
In partnership with the Iowa Area Development Group (IADG), Aureon’s Ripple Effect Program aims to strengthen rural Iowa communities through economic development initiatives. This program helps guide projects and initiatives in communities served by Webster-Calhoun.
You can learn more about Aureon’s Community Involvement on their website.
Webster-Calhoun
Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association provides fiber-driven Internet, Wi-Fi, Telephone, and TV services to homes and businesses across 21 growing communities.
WCCTA is Gigabit Certified and designated a Smart Rural Community by NTCA: the Rural Broadband Association.
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