$2.6 million Community Facilities grant awarded to Southwest Health Center, Inc. employee childcare facility in Grant County
STEVENS POINT, Wis., Nov. 20, 2024 – Today, on National Child’s Day, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa highlighted that the Department is investing nearly $2.6 million to help Southwest Health Center, Inc. (SHC) construct a childcare facility. The funding is through Rural Development’s Community Facilities Grant program. It’s the latest funding awarded for childcare in Wisconsin, demonstrating the Department’s priority of making childcare more accessible in rural areas.
“Access to quality, affordable childcare and early learning opportunities is imperative for rural families and communities,” Lassa said. “Childcare allows parents to work, strengthens the economy and supports children’s overall development by laying the groundwork for future success in school and life. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA is committed to helping rural and Tribal communities strengthen their childcare infrastructure and strive to meet the increasing demand for this essential service.”
SHC is located in Platteville and is the largest healthcare employer in the region. Over the past eight years, SHC has tripled in size, which has resulted in a significant need for accessible childcare.
The funds will be used to construct a new state-of-the-art childcare facility near the hospital campus which will add approximately 200 slots for children from birth through the age of six. The building will include space for seven classrooms with restrooms, commons area, offices, storage, kitchen, and outdoor access for children. The center will work in partnership with the Platteville School District to provide after-school programs for students through the age of 12.
The funding is highlighted today during a week dedicated to another key priority for USDA Rural Development, which is education.
“USDA Rural Development proudly joins in celebrating American Education Week,” Lassa said. “We recognize the critical importance of educators in our communities, and this week is an especially important time to acknowledge the contributions of teachers, staff, childcare professionals, and mentors of all kinds. Your work matters and is key to the success of students and communities.”
The CF Direct Loan and Grant program, which processed the SHC application, provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities, including schools and childcare facilities, in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings. To learn more, visit: Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program | Rural Development.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. REAP is a part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative which sets a goal that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. USDA Rural Development supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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