An architectural rendering shows the exterior of the proposed new Riverview Early Childhood Center.

The Riverview Expansion Initiative goes live today.

That means that the board of Riverview Early Childhood Center in Webster City has pulled the lever on a $6.5-million fundraising campaign, the goal of which is to replace the existing site of the center with a state-of-the-art new construction.

The existing center, at 705 Odell Street, Webster City, is a former elementary school built in 1956.

The new construction would be located at the crest of what is locally known as Hospital Hill, the empty site of the former Hamilton Hospital at Ohio and Des Moines streets.

Its proponents say it is time to replace the old site, not only for safety and maintenance concerns, but because it would also greatly increase the service capacity of the Riverview Early Childhood Center.

“There has been a waiting list at Riverview for multiple years,” Doug Getter, of Webster City, said. Getter is acting as a fundraising advisor for the nonprofit. “Currently this year, that’s running about 62. In 2015, the school had an average daily attendance of 70, with 50 on a wait list.”

The average attendance now is 95 per day. The center serves children from ages 0 to 12.

Getter said access to good childcare is a crucial part of a community’s economic success.

“Our employers continue to lament the need for staff. Most families are, anymore, at least two income or more households. Childcare becomes, then, a dominant factor, both for families as well as employers.”

Riverview board member Janet Adams added, “And could I just say it’s quality, dependable childcare, right? Because we hear parents say, ‘I thought I had childcare lined up, but the person called this morning …’ So we always (can) use good quality, dependable child care.”

Ottie Maxey, director of Economic Development for the Ames Regional Economic Development Alliance, underscored the impact the access to good childcare can have in a community.

“Quality childcare and preschool is a critical need not only in Webster City, but statewide. In addition to the obvious issue of ensuring kindergarten readiness for children, quality child care is critical to economic development. To recruit and retain an excellent workforce, existing business and industry relies on excellent, accessible child care.

“Not only that, but prospective employers also considering locating in the region include childcare as a necessity in their decision-making. The Riverview project is an asset that improves Webster City and makes it attractive for business and industry moving to our region.”

First Children’s Finance

Two years ago the board retained First Children’s Finance, of West Des Moines, to assist Riverview in assessing the future. It put together a business plan with the Riverview board.

That plan, Getter said, identified that there is a “crying need for child care.”

The 2020 Census estimates there were 940 children ages 0 to 9 in Webster City, and an additional 643 youngsters ages 10 to 14. The majority of the parents in those households worked, according to First Children’s Executive Summary to the Riverview Board.

“As of 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 full-time, year-round care.”

Riverview began as a child care center in 1988, eventually taking over the elementary school site from the Webster City Community School District. The facility is 68 years old, Getter pointed out. It has no sprinkler system and there is no proper tornado shelter.

“The new center is vital not only for parents and ensuring that they have a safe environment for their children, but also a safe environment to live and work,” he said.

The new facility

A preliminary 18,480-square-foot design would accommodate 168 children, according to a proposal by Atura, a Clear Lake architectural firm that has a track record in creating early childhood learning centers.

The proposed building would cost $6 million. Another $500,000 would fund building equipment and furnishings.

The Riverview Initiative hopes to raise that money through both private and public means, with the goal of securing half the funds it needs by the end of this calendar year. The proposal is to build the facility through 2025 and into 2026, then open in August of 2026.

Once fully operational, the proposal projects that staff would be increased to 45 or more.

Plus, its advocates say, the six-acre site allows room for expansion — though not into the historic popular sledding site on Hospital Hill.

Getter said, “There’s really four points of view that this project involves. One is economic development and we’re working with the city manager as well as the county on that part of that component. The second, obviously, is child care, education, quality of life development. Thirdly is the ability to manage costs. They’ve been very effectively able to deal with an experienced staff. And having the ability to provide dual income families with quality child care.

“That’s the message,” he said. “This is a must get done.”