MARION, WI – Marion Day Care is asking the community for help finding a new home after its planned expansion was halted by the Marion City Council. Officials with the day care tell TCHDailynews.com that they remain committed to expanding its services despite the Marion City Council’s decision to deny the zoning conditions needed for its proposed relocation.
The nonprofit child care center is now evaluating its next steps while continuing to search for a property that can meet both its current needs and future growth plans.
“We’re not giving up. We just don’t know where we’re at right now,” said Kayla Bessette, Expansion Campaign Lead for Marion Day Care. “We know there’s still definitely a need for more child care in the community. We’re pretty much always full, there’s always a wait list, and we’ve done everything we can to creatively use our space while still meeting DCF licensing requirements. We can’t fit any more kids in.”
Bessette said the need for additional child care will become even greater with ABC Child Care expected to close at the end of August.
“We would still love to expand and grow, not only right now, but somewhere that allows us to expand in the future,” she said. “We want to see Marion continue to be a growing, booming community, and that means bringing in families who will need child care.”
Limited Options Remain
Since the City Council vote, Bessette has researched Marion’s zoning regulations and found few viable locations that would allow the daycare to relocate without requiring another conditional use permit.
She said only a handful of properties are zoned appropriately, and none appear suitable for the organization’s long-term goals.
Many community members have suggested alternative buildings, but Bessette said pursuing another conditional use permit would mean repeating a lengthy and costly process that included application fees, inspections, appraisals and licensing reviews.
Child Care Shortage Extends Beyond Marion
Bessette said Marion Day Care serves families from well outside the city because child care shortages exist throughout the region.
“We have a family that currently comes from Clintonville, and we’ve had a family in the past that came from Wausau,” she said. “Families come from anywhere because they can’t find care anywhere. Everywhere has wait lists. Everywhere is spread thin.”
She said the shortage sometimes forces parents to rely on unlicensed care or leave the workforce altogether.
“If we don’t provide safe, quality state-licensed child care, families are forced to find whatever option they can,” Bessette said. “Some parents know it isn’t the safest or best option, but they have no other choice besides quitting their job.”
Why the ABC Building Isn’t the Answer
One suggestion that has surfaced repeatedly is the former ABC Child Care building.
Bessette said Marion Day Care evaluated that property more than a year ago but determined it would not meet the organization’s needs.
According to Bessette, the building is actually smaller than Marion Day Care’s current facility, meaning the organization would have to reduce enrollment by about six children while still doing nothing to address the approximately 20 children who will lose care when ABC closes.
Even with a building addition, she said the site would still fall well short of meeting the community’s long-term child care needs.
“Our goal is to find somewhere that allows us to look another 35 years into the future,” Bessette said. “We’ve been serving this community for 35 years, and we want to continue doing that. Ideally, we’d like to have space for 45 to 60 children.”
Community Support Grows
Throughout the expansion effort, Bessette said social media has become one of the organization’s strongest tools for keeping residents informed.
“Our following has grown significantly during this time,” she said. “Our support has always been there, but quietly. When this happened, our supporters jumped in and stood up for us. We realized we have this huge community, not just Marion, but surrounding communities, that understands the need and what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Marion Day Care is continuing to ask residents for ideas on possible properties, funding opportunities and grant leads.
“I’d rather hear the same locations being thrown at me 100 times and have 99 of them not work than miss the one opportunity that could,” Bessette said. “We’re super appreciative of everyone who’s been sending us ideas and brainstorming with us.”
While the organization originally secured financing for a $200,000 property, Bessette said purchasing an existing building no longer appears likely. Instead, Marion Day Care is exploring the possibility of constructing a new facility, a project estimated to cost between $400,000 and $500,000.
She said the nonprofit will continue fundraising and seeking grants as it works toward creating more child care opportunities for Marion-area families.
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