The Foundation has been working on expanding childcare in our service area since 2021. Our research, published in our 2021 Expanding Childcare report, found that a great need in Yadkin County was child care after losing 2/3 of its licensed child care over the past ten years. Alongside a coalition of Yadkin County leaders, we are pursuing a unique and innovative facility model called the ChildPlex, which will be the first in NC and possibly the country, when built. The planning team filed a petition with the NC Child Care Commission to change the state rules so that the model could be licensed. The petition was approved and is now under review. Simply described, the ChildPlex is a multi-unit facility with six turnkey, fully equipped and furnished spaces available for rent to six new childcare business owners. The facility will have shared common areas such as a playground, indoor children’s gym, and office spaces for children receiving special services. Such shared spaces reduced the cost of operations.
The Yadkin County Economic Development Partnership will construct and own the facility, renting it to SmartStart of Yadkin County, who will operate the building and shepherd the cohort of new businesses. Ideally-located land has been generously pledged by Marion and Jewell Welborn on Progress Lane near several major industries in Yadkinville. This exciting project is being watched by many other communities struggling to find viable solutions to the childcare shortage.
Kevin Austin, VP and Manufacturing Manager, Austin Electronic Enclosures, Board of Directors, Shallow Ford Foundation; Liz Bell, Reporter, EducationNC; Tim Bell, Director of Facilities, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Board Member Emeritus, Shallow Ford Foundation; Carolyn Choplin, Executive Director; Becky McCarson, Board Chair, Smart Start of Yadkin County; Emmy Corn, CEO, Shallow Ford Foundation; Anthony Davis, Superintendent, Yadkin County Schools; Lisa Hughes, County Manager, Yadkin County; Dr. Todd Martin, Former Superintendent, Yadkin County Schools; Monta Davis Oliver, Mayor pro tem, Town of Yadkinville; Sandi Scannelli, Shallow Ford Foundation; Bobby Todd, President, Yadkin County Economic Development Partnership, Executive Director, Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce; H. Smith “Smitty” Williams, Operations Human Resource Manager, Unifi; John Willingham, President, Indera Mills Company
Kevin Austin, VP and Manufacturing Manager, Austin Electronic Enclosures, Board of Directors, Shallow Ford Foundation; Carolyn Choplin, Executive Director, Smart Start of Yadkin County; Lisa Hughes, County Manager, Yadkin County; Sandi Scannelli, Shallow Ford Foundation; Bobby Todd, President, Yadkin County Economic Development Partnership, Executive Director, Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce
Marion and Jewell Welborn generously donated the land on Progress Lane in Yadkinville on which this new multi-unit child care facility will be built. Marion and Jewell’s family nick-named Jewell, "Mama Jewell." Her nickname even extended beyond family because of her maternal care and kindness with everyone she met. When planning team member, Lisa Hughes, suggested this name for the facility, the team agreed with a hearty YES! With Jewell’s recent passing, the Mama Jewell’s ChildPlex is a fitting legacy to memorialize her great love of children, family, and community.
Outcomes include: easier access for new providers, encourages small business ownership, competitive earnings, efficiencies in shared spaces and back-office support, provides a cohort of peer training and support, ideal for rural areas, attractive to government/economic development
Impressed with the leadership and work of Yadkin County’s FlexPlex Planning Team, the NCGA Joint Early Childhood Caucus leaders came to Yadkin County to meet with Yadkin County leaders and learn more about the plans for expanding childcare. Liz Bell from EducationNC attended and reported on the meeting in their state wide publication. Click below to read the full article.
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