Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Childcare Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves $8,000 release to local childcare provider to ease payroll strain
Summary
The City Commission approved release of the remaining $8,000 from a prior small-business loan to The Learning so the center can separate entities, cover short‑term payroll gaps and pursue licensing to expand capacity to 65 children.
The City Commission voted to release $8,000 in previously authorized small‑business revolving funds to The Learning to address short‑term cash‑flow and staffing challenges, the center’s owner said.
Katie Fowler, owner and director of The Learning, told commissioners the facility struggled with cash flow because expenses for two related entities were being paid from the same employer identification number. Fowler said the payment would allow the organizations to separate under distinct EINs by July 1, preventing them from borrowing from each other and easing payroll pressure while the center completes licensing paperwork that would raise capacity to 65.
“Right now we’re struggling to make payroll because of the fact that we’re borrowing from both the expenses of those two entities,” Fowler said, explaining that the funds would plug an interim timing gap. She added the center expected to be fully enrolled on June 1 and currently had eight staff servicing about 30 children.
Staff reminded the commission that an earlier $10,000 award had been fully spent on supplies such as shelving and toys. Commissioners asked about signage and licensing timelines; Fowler said food‑safety licensing had been obtained and the remainder of the licensing portal upload and inspection should take “a couple weeks.”
Commissioner Canowski moved to release the remaining $8,000 contingent on standard monitoring; a second was recorded and the motion carried on voice vote.
The funds are intended to bridge a short-term gap while the provider separates entities and completes licensing. The commission did not discuss additional long‑term oversight or repayment schedule during the meeting; details were not specified.
