BY KARMA METZLER FITZGERALD

Lincoln County has received a $450,000 grant to create a daycare center, according to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the families of Lincoln County,” said Commission Chairperson Rebecca Wood. “We hope it’s a great start to providing the needed childcare for our community.”

The plan will add a total of 30 spaces for children aged 0-3 over the next two years, Wood said. The funding is made possible by a grant from the Idaho Work Force Development Council and contributions from local businesses.

“We have generous support from Lezamiz Dairy, ETS Technologies, Ironwood Industries and others for in-kind contributions that will help make this project successful,” Wood added.

The day care project is scheduled to open in phases until all 30 spaces are available. Transportation to and from the center will be provided.

“We know 30 spaces won’t fill the full needs of the county's families, but it’s a start, and we hope it will open the door to more opportunities,” said Wood.

Wood said the current plan is to open the day care center on the existing Lincoln County Youth Center site in Richfield, but she said she hasn’t ruled out other locations. “We have to run some numbers for the other locations to find the best investment for our community.”

Under Wood’s direction, Lincoln County has invested heavily in childcare over the last three years. Wood, along with Lincoln County Youth Center Co-Founder Karma Metzler Fitzgerald, has acquired more than $2 million in grant funding and donations to provide a county-owned facility where pre-school and afterschool programs for Lincoln County residents happen daily.  According to Wood, the economic impact of that work will result in nearly $20 million in return on investment back to the community.

“At this point, all of that has been done without directly using Lincoln County taxpayer dollars. Some of our funding comes from federal and state grants, some from personal donations, but it’s all been done with grants and donations,” she said.

The goal is helping Lincoln County parents be able to enter the workforce if needed. Right now, she said, far too many families need the extra income and employers need employees. But, without childcare, it’s just not possible.

Wood hopes to have the new daycare center open by the end of 2024. She said the new center will be fully licensed and able to accept Idaho Child Care Program payments, which help some families cover costs. She said she’s still looking for more corporate sponsors and in-kind donations to ensure the success of the program.