—Transmitted image
An architectural rendering shows the exterior of the planned new Riverview Early Childhood Center.
WEBSTER CITY – The board of directors of Riverview Early Childhood Center in Webster City has launched a $6.5 million fundraising campaign aimed at replacing the center’s existing location with a new, state-of-the-art building.
The existing center at 705 Odell St. is a former elementary school built in 1956.
The new building would be built on top of what is known locally as Hospital Hill, the vacant site of the former Hamilton Hospital at the corner of Ohio and Des Moines Streets.
Its supporters say it is time to replace the old site, not only for safety and maintenance reasons, but also because it would significantly increase the service capacity of the Riverview Early Childhood Center.
“Riverview has had a waiting list for several years,” Doug Getter of Webster City said he serves as a fundraising consultant for the nonprofit.
“Currently, this value is around 62,” he said. “In 2015, there were an average of 70 students attending the school each day, and 50 were on the waiting list.”
The average number of visitors is currently 95 per day. The center cares for children from birth to 12 years of age.
Getter said access to quality child care is a critical factor in a community’s economic success.
“Our employers continue to complain about staff shortages,” he said. “Most families today consist of at least two or more incomes. Childcare is therefore becoming a crucial factor, both for families and employers.”
Janet Adams, Riverview board member, added: “And all I can say is that it’s high quality, reliable childcare, right? Because we hear parents say, ‘I thought I had arranged childcare, but the person called this morning…’ So we can always use high quality, reliable childcare.”
Ottie Maxey, director of economic development for the Ames Regional Economic Development Alliance, emphasized the impact that access to quality child care can have on a community.
“Quality child care and preschool education are urgently needed not only in Webster City, but across the state. In addition to the obvious issue of how to ensure children are ready for kindergarten, quality child care is critical to economic development. To attract and retain a great workforce, existing businesses and industries depend on excellent, accessible child care.
“Not only that, but potential employers considering locating in the area also consider child care as a necessity in their decision-making process. The Riverview project is an asset that enhances Webster City and makes it attractive to businesses and industry moving to our region.”
Two years ago, the board hired First Children’s Finance of West Des Moines to help Riverview assess its future. The company worked with Riverview’s board to develop a business plan.
This plan, says Getter, recognized that there is a “Urgent need for childcare.”
According to the 2020 census, there were 940 children ages 0 to 9 in Webster City and another 643 youth ages 10 to 14. According to First Children’s summary to the Riverview Board, the majority of parents in these households were employed.
“From November 2022” First Children’s stated: “There were nine (9) DHS (Iowa Department of Human Services) regulated programs with 403 spaces in Webster City, and only 284 of those spaces are for year-round, full-time care.”
Riverview began as a daycare center in 1988 and eventually took over the elementary school campus from the Webster City Community School District. The facility is 68 years old, Getter emphasized. It has no sprinkler system and no proper tornado shelter.
“The new centre is not only crucial for parents as it provides them with a safe environment for their children, but also a safe environment to live and work,” he said.
A preliminary design with a floor space of 1,740 square meters can accommodate 168 children, according to a proposal from Atura, an architectural firm in Clear Lake that has many years of experience setting up early childhood learning centers.
The proposed building would cost $6 million, with an additional $500,000 going toward building equipment and furnishings.
The Riverview Initiative hopes to raise that money through both private and public funding, with the goal of securing half of the funds needed by the end of this calendar year. The proposal calls for building the facility through 2025 and 2026, then opening in August 2026.
Once operations are fully operational, the workforce is expected to increase to 45 or more.
In addition, supporters say, the 2.4-hectare site offers room for expansion – but not as far as the popular historic toboggan run on Hospital Hill.
