The Emporia Chamber Foundation’s effort to transform the former Maynard Early Childhood Center space has a new name: Little Lyons.
Fundraising for the needed renovations at 19 Constitution took several big steps forward over the last month, including a nearly $1.8 million Capital Projects Fund Accelerator grant for property purchase and renovations announced by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund late last month — and a $552,000 Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant announced earlier in October for salaries, operations and supplies.
Chamber President and CEO Jeanine McKenna says the facility will stand apart from other local childcares once it’s ready for children.
McKenna credited grant writer and Emporia State professor Erica Martin, Flint Hills Technical College Early Childhood Education instructor Nancy Robinson, Ignite Emporia Director Michelle Margeson and others for their work to get the process to this point.
McKenna says the Chamber Foundation is in the process of writing more grant applications and developing plans to sell naming rights to different rooms to finish the fundraising. Another goal is to create an endowed fund with the Emporia Community Foundation to make the project sustainable.
