Scott County Community Foundation board member Jennifer Coward presents a check for $23,392.90 to Scott County Family YMCA President/CEO Donald Conner. The grant was made possible from a community leadership planning grant to the Community Foundation from Lilly Endowment Inc. It will be used for architect and design fees to construct a new state-of-the-art daycare facility and multi-purpose areas. The YMCA will convert their unusable pool area into 10,000 square feet of renovated space, construct a 15,000-square-foot playground, an outdoor parking area, and create additional gym space, multi-purpose and meeting rooms. They plan to have up to five classrooms to house 85 children ages 6 months and older.
Through the Lilly Endowment planning grant in 2024, Scott County Community Foundation partnered with Indiana University Southeast to create a report, “High Quality Early Care and Education for Scott County”. The findings report that there are about 1,117 children under the age of six in Scott County whose parents both work, with only 340 registered childcare slots. Therefore, almost 70 percent, or about 777 children, can’t be placed in registered childcare.
“We are so excited to be a partner in this crucial project for Scott County,” said Community Foundation Executive Director Jaime Toppe. “This supports our Early Childhood Committee’s goal to ensure that every child in Scott County receives high-quality, safe, and developmentally appropriate care from birth to age five.”
The YMCA childcare program currently offers care for children ages three to five years old in a safe, fun, and engaging environment. They accept CCDF vouchers, and have spots available. Call 812-752-9622 or visit scfy.org for more information.
