(Griswold, Iowa) – A number of special guests, donors and citizens of Griswold and Cass County turned out Saturday morning for a groundbreaking ceremony, in Griswold. The ceremonial gold spades donated by Henningsen Construction were dug-in just behind and slightly southeast of the $2.3-Griswold Community Schools for the Lakin Child Development Center. Before the honored speakers addressed those in attendance, Miss Christina and Miss Autum’s preschool class donned plastic “hardhats” and carried plastic shovels to sing a couple of songs, including “Bob the Builder.”

Noble Initiative Foundation Board Member and Cass County Supervisor Board Chair Steve Baier gave a brief summary of how the special day was made possible. He said “Go back five years ago. Noble Center Church was facing a very difficult decision: whether to keep the rural churches doors open while facing a declining and aging-out membership, or use the funds they had amassed for a greater purpose: supporting the needs of the community through child care, and support the young families in the community.

The church members ante-up’d $65,000 to get the ball rolling on a daycare center, and a series of community meetings were held with citizens and stakeholders in the project.

Just about the time planned fundraising events and community meetings were set to take place, COVID hit in 2020, leaving the project “adrift,” for about a year, according to Baier. When COVID began to wane, the Board was able to get back to business, and fundraising strategies came back to the forefront. It wasn’t long thereafter nine-acres land for project was negotiated, and donations and grants for the viable project began to pour in.

That includes a $450,000 grant from the State of Iowa, $150,000 from the ARPA Fund provided by the Cass County Board of Supervisors and hundreds of gifts from individuals and organizations from within and outside of the community help push the the total to $1.8-million. Baier said in late 2022, the Charles E. Lakin Foundation stepped-forward with a grant totaling $500,000, which ensured the Initiative had the funds to make the Lakin Childhood Development Center in Griswold, a reality.

Other speakers included: long-time active member of the Griswold community, Shirley Bierbaum. She made a significant donation toward the project; Nick Zimmer, from Red Oak, whose expertise in organizational fundraising and grant writing helped form relationships with several entities and incorporated into the success of the project; and Noble Initiative Board President/City Councilman, Jared Wyman.

Kids dig-in during the groundbreaking!

Afterward, visitors and guests were invited to head outside to witness the groundbreaking by Board members and others, including a special opportunity for the kids to dig-in their shovels. The dirt really went flying when the kids pitched-in.