Lack of childcare in the area has been a top concern echoed by many throughout Boone County. Boone Beginnings Early Childhood and Family Development Center will provide childcare and high-quality programming for 80 children from ages six weeks through preschool. Currently, in Boone County, there are 80 children in this age range for whom there is no space in local daycares. Centrally located in Albion, Boone Beginnings will offer childcare, parent education, and a support network for all licensed childcare providers in Boone County.
Because of the strong need, this center will provide all-day/all-year care without competing with current providers or preschool programs. Not only will Boone Beginnings benefit our children by nurturing their cognitive, behavioral, and social development, but it will also benefit our community’s quality of life and our local economy. To learn more about why early childhood development is imperative at this stage in a child’s life and how it’ll benefit Boone County, visit the Educational Videos page.
Children under the age of 5 in Boone County with all available parents working
Total licensed childcare spots in Boone County
Total number of preschool availability
Children under age 5 not enrolled in a private licensed or public preschool
Boone Beginnings Early Childhood & Family Development Center will be child-centered. It will be family-focused. It will create business partnerships. And it will accelerate community development. These are our four key vision points with this project. To help Boone County residents get a better handle on the project and why it’s so important, we’ve laid out more information in the Our Vision page and have created community education videos on the Educational Videos page.
The economic incentives for Boone Beginnings are many. From job creation, population retention, and recruitment to fewer tax dollars being allocated toward corrective programming, Boone Beginnings will not only alleviate stress on our economy but will bolster it. Our local workforce will be strengthened considerably, as capable parents who previously stayed at home for lack of childcare availability rejoin the workforce and as new residents settle in the area.
As our 2019 survey showed, a majority of Boone County residents believe lack of available childcare to be a pressing issue. Research has shown that, when parents don’t have access to quality childcare, they’re more likely to do one of two things—leave their job or leave their community. We are losing too many potential residents to neighboring counties where childcare is more available.
We anticipate long-term success for our children as well as our community, as Boone Beginnings creates sustainable jobs and bolsters our economy. So too does it equip our children with the necessary tools for success. These children will grow up in our community and many will be the faces of tomorrow’s Boone County workforce. An investment in their future is also an investment in ours.
Once in awhile, a project comes along that impacts the entire county. Stay up to date and engage in the conversation by following along on social media, or if you feel so compelled, you can contribute by making an online donation to help bring this project to life!