SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Shelby County is poised to see a significant boost in its childcare facilities, thanks to a generous building donation from a local bank and financial contributions from businesses across Central Illinois.
In the coming months, nearly 100 young children will step into a new learning environment designed to ready them for elementary school. So far, the effort has raised $700,000. However, organizers emphasize the need to gather an additional $1.5 million to convert the former bank into the Shelby County Early Learning Center.
Shannon Shallenberger, Vice Chair of the Shelby County Childcare Consortium and Shelbyville Schools’ Early Childhood Director, is spearheading efforts to address childcare needs in the area—a cause close to her heart.
“Recognizing the issue, local leaders and individuals came together to form this consortium, aiming to raise awareness and address the lack of childcare options,” Shallenberger commented.
For a decade, families, school staff members and companies alike have been working to bring a childcare center to Shelbyville.
“There are parents that are choosing either the mom or dad to stay home and work, not because that’s best for them financially, but just because they can’t find childcare,” said Shallenberger.
Although there were discussions about building the center, that plan was discarded due to the $4 million price tag.
“That was kind of hard to raise in a small town,” Shallenberger said.
But an opportunity of a lifetime came along when the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Shelbyville decided to move.
“First Federal Savings and Loan had moved to the Main Street location, and they had this building available and some generous members of the community decided to donate it to us,” Shallenberger explained.
That donation dropped the price from $4 million to $1.5 million, with businesses coming in to cover the cost.
“Businesses in town have been donating on it… will be donating on a yearly basis to kind of offset the costs for parents,” said Shallenberger.
She said the city has been listening to the people, and now she is excited to see everyone’s wishes come true.
“It’s coming, it’s real. We have a building and we have plans, and the architect,” said Shallenberger.
She said the remodeling will start soon and the facility should be open next summer. The early learning center can have up to 99 children at a time, and 20 people will be on staff.