Kids Rock! gets fundraising boost

Members of the Luverne Economic Development Authority heard updates on the Kids Rock! Child Care Center during their regular meeting Aug. 14.
LEDA Director Holly Sammons reported that the non-profit board overseeing the center has raised over $500,000 toward the $1,000,000 private funding goal. 
“We have seen a great response from what we call our Tier 1 donors,” Sammons said. “These are our larger businesses and donors that board members have had face-to-face meetings with. They have all been supportive and see the need for the project.” 
Sammons said she believes the board has done well advocating for the project and informing the community of the need the center hopes to fill. 
“People understand the vision and see the need,” she said. “It's really been exciting.” 
Mayor Pat Baustian mentioned media attention that the project has received.
“They’ve seen what we’re doing and are curious,” he said. 
Sammons mentioned coverage in the Minneapolis Star Tribune specifically. 
“There was a nice article in the Star Trib on a Sunday a few weeks ago,” she said. “That led an anonymous person who read that article to contact Emily at the Community Foundation and donate $50,000 to the fund drive.” 
Baustian said, “It pays to talk to the media.”
City leaders are in the process of selecting a construction manager at risk and establishing the guaranteed maximum price (GMP). 
“We hope to have that contract signed soon,” Sammons said. 
The USDA is completing the environmental review and will formally obligate funds in September. 
According to Sammons, tentative plans still call for construction to begin in March 2024, with a projected opening in early 2025. 
An executive director will be hired sometime in 2024 to prepare for the opening of the center. 
“That person will be hired by the Kids Rock! Board, and their salary will be paid by the board,” Sammons said. “The board is fully in charge of operating the facility.” 
According to Sammons, the executive director will be instrumental in establishing policies, developing program manuals, hiring staff and other duties needed to prepare for the opening of the center. 
“All of that needs to be done well,” Baustian said. “That will be an important job.”