A groundbreaking is being held today for the $3.45 million child care center that will be built across from the elementary school in Colfax. Officials with Colfax Economic Development Corporation will attend the ceremony, along with representatives from the Colfax-Mingo School District and the building’s designers and builders, Atura Architecture of Clear Lake and Dean Snyder Construction in Ankeny. Colfax-Mingo Superintendent Tim Salmon says the project’s timeline has construction being completed in June of next year.

Colfax Economic Development Corporation was awarded a $1.7 million grant for the combined daycare and preschool. The money is part of $14 million in grant awards that Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Workforce Development dedicated for businesses statewide to expand child care for their employees. The grant funds are from the state’s Child Care Business Incentive Grant, and must be used for the expansion or construction of new child care or daycare facilities. Superintendent Salmon notes the school district reached out to the public to supply matching funds for the grants..

The new building is expected to have 9,500 square feet for daycare and 2,000 square feet for preschool, to accommodate up to 140 children and create more than 20 new jobs. Colfax Economic Development Corporation says the building’s location across from the elementary school is expected to allow for an easy transition for both children and families as kids age into preschool and then elementary school. It also allows for shared use of a playground, parking, and food services. Today’s groundbreaking is open to the public. It begins at 10 a.m. at 16 South Locust Street in Colfax.