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Sale of Maynard property to Emporia Area Chamber Foundation hinges on grant funding

Emporia, KS, USA / KVOE
Chuck Samples
Apr 26, 2023 | 8:41 PM
Sale of Maynard property to Emporia Area Chamber Foundation hinges on grant funding

KVOE News file photo.



Grant funding may well decide whether the USD 253 Emporia Board of Education’s plan to sell the former Maynard Early Childhood Center to the Emporia Area Chamber Foundation finalizes or falls through.
On Wednesday, the school board voted unanimously to sell the building to the Emporia Area Chamber Foundation — provided the foundation secures between $3.6 million and $4 million for purchase, renovations and repairs. Board member Jeremy Dorsey says it’s a great move for the school board if things work out.
Wednesday’s decision followed an effort by Simmons Pet Food to buy the building at an estimated $200,000 for a round-the-clock daycare facility last year. Simmons eventually withdrew its purchase bid.
The Chamber bid is $265,000 without grant funding. Board member Jennifer Thomas says this will help the district and the community if all goes according to plan.
Chamber President and CEO Jeanine McKenna says this would meet a pressing need by offering 24-7 childcare space, and she says grant requests are out now.
Grants could possibly come through Child Care Aware, the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the All In For Kansas Kids program through the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.
Coldwell Banker Emporia Real Estate, the district’s realtor, gained permission to keep the property at 19 Constitution on the market if grant funding is either not fully obtained or not secured at all. Coldwell Banker owner Jamie Sauder says recent changes in state law — especially with the Rural Housing Incentive District being rebranded as the Reinvestment Housing Incentive District — bodes well for needed renovations at Maynard.
The district replaced Maynard with the Jones Early Childhood Center. Jones began operations this past fall.

8:40 pm Wednesday:

Not everything is final yet, but the process is in place to sell the former Maynard Early Childhood Center.

The USD 253 Emporia Board of Education voted unanimously to sell the building to the Emporia Area Chamber Foundation — provided the foundation secures between $3.6 million and $4 million for purchase, renovations and repairs. Coldwell Banker Emporia Real Estate, the district’s realtor, gained permission to keep the property at 19 Constitution on the market if grant funding is either not fully obtained or not secured at all with funding announcements expected by mid-July.

Wednesday’s decision followed an effort by Simmons Pet Food to buy the building at an estimated $200,000 for a round-the-clock daycare facility last year. Simmons eventually withdrew its purchase bid, but Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jeanine McKenna says a 24-7 childcare facility is the goal with this effort. McKenna says the foundation showed four properties for a possible daycare, but at least two were eliminated due to cost-prohibitive renovations for various reasons.

In other business, the board approved the job description for the district’s new childcare supervisor position. It also approved the purchase of 125 Chromebooks and a software update for district staff through CDW-G for nearly $88,000. A $30,000 broker services agreement with Brown & Brown/Hays Companies for the district’s health and dental insurance plans was also approved.