Kalona to study early childhood needs

By Molly Roberts
Posted 6/9/21

The City of Kalona will move forward with an early childhood needs assessment, partnering with the Mid-Prairie Community School District, Pleasantview Home and the YMCA of Washington …

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Kalona to study early childhood needs

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The City of Kalona will move forward with an early childhood needs assessment, partnering with the Mid-Prairie Community School District, Pleasantview Home and the YMCA of Washington County.

“There are a lot of early childhood funding opportunities. As the school district has gone through their facility needs plan, as we start to look at 64 lots available [in Southtown] and 85 coming on board later, the want for good childhood early care isn’t going to go away,” City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh said. “We want to see what that demand is and look at how we can form a collaborative partnership, maybe, at a later date.”

Mary Audia, executive director of the Washington Economic Development Group (WEDG) agreed that the need for childcare is pressing.

“The childcare issue is huge,” Audia said. “That’s what we’re finding with a lot of organizations and that’s one of the things that every business that I’ve gone to has said, ‘We need workforce, Mary,’ and I said, ‘Yes, I realize that. That’s been a problem for quite some time.’ And then they said ‘Guess what the number one issue is. Childcare.’ That’s the number one issue.

WEDG will commission its own early childhood study, working with First Children’s Finance to send out surveys to schools, childcare providers and employers throughout Washington County. The study will help provide important data that other entities can use down the line when applying for funds.

Two members of the Kalona City Council, Joe Schmidt and Jenelle Bender, will work with the city to complete Kalona’s own early childhood needs assessment.

In other action, the city council set two public hearings for June 21 at 7 p.m. regarding the rezoning request for the Northridge subdivision (Lots 16, 72-79) and the rezoning request for the Incline Grove Subdivision.

The council approved the final plat for phase one of the Northridge subdivision, lots 1-64. They also approved the preliminary plat for phase 2 of the subdivision, lots 65-85.

The approval of the final plat means that lots can now be officially sold. Project Manager with C.J. Moyna & Sons, Adam Kos, said that some buyers are hoping to start building their new homes within the next couple of weeks.