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Innovative Partnership Addresses Childcare

Posted on: December 10, 2024   |   Category: News
Jenkins Donation Photo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 10, 2024

WATERTOWN – An innovative partnership between Lake Area Technical College and Jenkins Living Center in Watertown will help address the region’s growing childcare challenges.

Lake Area Technical College Vice President Cam Corey said a $55,000 grant from Jenkins Living Center will allow the college to expand its Educare Center, located in the former Garfield Elementary School. The center provides daycare services for preschool children, as well as before- and after-school care for kindergarten students.

“We are very appreciative of Jenkins Living Center for stepping forward and being a part of this innovative solution to our region’s childcare crisis,” Corey said. “It’s a great example of private and public entities coming together to help address an issue and improve the quality of life in our communities.”

Corey said the grant allowed Lake Area Tech to expand its current facilities at the former Garfield Elementary School. Additional fire suppression equipment will allow the center to expand into other parts of the building and grow its capacity from 55 children to 135. Additional funds from the State of South Dakota were also secured for this project.

Jenkins Living Center President and CEO Kasey Klapprodt said the project should serve as a model for similar initiatives across the region. This opportunity has been incredibly beneficial to the Jenkins Living Center staff members. Partnering with Educare has enabled Jenkins employees to access stable and affordable childcare.

“Jenkins Living Center and Lake Area Technical College have a long history together, so it is great to be able to come together to address the true needs of the Watertown Community,” Kasey said. “With the Jenkins Foundation and support from the board of directors of Jenkins, we are fortunate to be able to help expand the availability of childcare with LATC so that more families can be a part of the amazing program at Educare.”

Parents interested in enrolling students at Lake Area Tech’s Educare Center should contact the college at (605) 882-5284. Founded in 1965, Lake Area Tech was South Dakota’s first technical college and has been named the nation’s best two-year college. The college offers 31 programs in high-demand career fields and has an enrollment of 2,600 students. For more information, contact (605) 882-5284.

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Cutline: Officials from Jenkins Living Center in Watertown recently donated $55,000 to Lake Area Technical College to expand its Educare facility. Pictured from left are back row: Jenkins Board Member Heidi Schmidt, Jenkins Board Secretary Peg Selchert, Jenkins President/CEO Kasey Klapprodt, Lake Area Tech Vice President Cameron Corey, Lake Area Tech Foundation Executive Director Tracy Buisker and Jenkins Board Chairman Mike Kluck. Front Row: Jenkins Employee Larissa Sokolosky, Jenkins Employee Erin Haufschild, Educare Director Wendy Meek, and Jenkins Employee Yolanda Garcia. (Courtesy Photo)