The Milford Childhood Learning Center is about more than walls and paint, it’s about shaping a space where young minds can flourish, according to its board of directors.
The center will break ground this week at 520 S. A Street, next to Bellwood Mennonite Church.
Floor plans for the childcare center are complete, and the MCLC team designed its classrooms with the flourish philosophy in mind.
“These are spacious classrooms with great natural light and tons of exciting experiences for kids,” said Kylie Schildt, MCLC program coordinator. “I’m really excited with the spaces we’ve been able to create.”
MCLC was awarded over $651,000 in state funding from a Business Partnership Grant through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Everything inside the center from cribs and cubbies to toys and books were paid for by the grant.
“If the community builds the center structure, the state will pay to furnish and staff it,” Kylie Schildt said.
MCLC is using a house built by students in construction programs at Southeast Community College. The house, built on campus, will be moved to the site as soon as it’s complete.
From there, the house will be renovated to accommodate the floor plan needed for the learning center.
“We had to have an established and consistent timeline for the grant, so SCC’s partnership was essential,” Kylie Schildt said. “Milford was too late in the (grant) cycle to start from scratch.”
Childcare experts evaluated the plans before they were confirmed.
“Working with Gladys Haynes at the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation was huge in building confidence with these layouts and moving forward,” said Kathi Schildt, MCLC executive director. “Gladys gave us great feedback and some adjustments based on her experience. We shared a passion for positive environments for kids and caregivers.”
Areas for dramatic play, sensory learning, art, blocks, science, literacy, music, fine and gross motor skill development were all priorities for the classrooms.
“We toured multiple centers and interviewed providers before starting on the modifications,” Kylie Schildt said. “With staffing being a statewide hurdle, we wanted to create a positive environment for children and caregivers.”
Aspects like how foot traffic will move through the building were considered for efficiency and safety.
“We’ve thought through the day-to-day consistently. We want to make sure the staff feels supported in their environment and can focus on caring for the kids,” Kathi Schildt said.
Including grant funds, MCLC has raised $971,486.
About 13% of those funds are from community donations.
“We’re really grateful for the support from the community so far,” Kathi Schildt said. “We expect about $300,000 or more from the staffing grant depending on how many classrooms we can afford to finish.”
The more classrooms that can be operational by the end of the year, more state funding the center will receive.
The MCLC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit lead by a board of directors including Katie Spohn, Tim Springer, Dr. Brandon Henley and Dave Welsch.
Donations to the center can be made at milfordchildhood.com/donate or at drop boxes located around Milford.
