MiEnergy Cooperative helps Sunflower access $1.86 million for childcare and discovery center in Decorah

Cresco, IA | Rushford, MN— MiEnergy Cooperative was one of three cooperatives announcing support for childcare during a check presentation event on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce.

MiEnergy Cooperative helped Sunflower Child Development Center, of Decorah, secure a $1.86 million loan and grant through the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. Others announcing awards were Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative which helped the center secure another $1.5 million through USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan Financing, and Dairyland Power Cooperative which contributed $2,500 that was matched by CoBank, a national bank cooperative, through CoBank’s Sharing Success Program.

“Communities looking for job growth opportunities need to consider childcare. The center is projected to help families meet childcare needs across seven counties surrounding Decorah,” stated Brian Krambeer, MiEnergy’s president/CEO. “It is a great business model to combine childcare with a discovery center. We are happy to play a role in partnering with others to support the building of this center for use by many in the local area for years to come.”

Sunflower is constructing a new, approximately 27,000 square foot, Northeast Iowa Child Development and Discovery Center. The new facility at 902 Commerce Street will replace the current aging center and a support capacity of 214 children with room to grow. It will include 19 classrooms with direct access to age-appropriate outdoor playgrounds. 

Classrooms will be separated from the discovery center’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) learning areas, indoor play areas and other common-use areas so that children throughout the region can benefit. In the evenings and weekends, the discovery center will be open to the public to provide additional revenue for supporting Sunflower operations.

Site preparations began in October with the building scheduled for completion in July 2024.