submitted by Blue Dragon Academy
The new Blue Dragon Academy opened on June 4, 2019. Two months after we moved into the center, it was full! We knew this was going to happen but just didn't expect it to happen that quickly. Currently, the center is full with 105 children enrolled and 39 on the waiting list.
We have been doing some research on an expansion project. We had a drawing completed for the new addition and were researching funding sources. We were notified recently by the Sioux Empire Growth Alliance that federal funds were available through the REED Foundation (Rural Electric Economic Development). Funds were awarded on a first come, first serve basis so we quickly filled out the application and were recently notified that we were awarded a $690,000 loan at 1.5% interest for 20 years. With this loan, we have a match of $238,885 and currently have $65,000 to put towards that. We are looking to raise $173,885 in donations, grants and fundraisers. The total amount of $928,885 will pay for the construction of the new expansion and pay off a private-lender from our original 2019 building project.
The current building is 6,100 square feet and the new addition is 3,600 square feet. The state has to review our plans, but we hope this will be enough room for about 60 more children. We are building as far as we can on our lot to the east to preserve our parking area and stay within our lot limit. The addition will be a multi-purpose room that will be primarily used for before and after school students. Our hope is to have a vaulted ceiling, allowing for a basketball hoop on the east end of the building. The room will be a great playroom for toddlers during the school day. The room will also have restrooms and a large closet for equipment to be stored in so the room can be rented out for local receptions, reunions, showers, etc.
Obviously, you are receiving this letter because we are asking for community support. As many of you may not be aware, Blue Dragon Academy Learning Center is a local 501 c3 center, not owned by an individual, but supported and operated by the Garretson Community. It is a nonprofit center that is managed by a director and six board members, structured very similar to that of the Garretson Community Pool. It is imperative that we raise as much as we can to take advantage of this low interest rate. If we can't come up with the estimated $174,000, we will not be able to utilize the full loan amount. Donations can be mailed in the enclosed envelope or made personally at First Bank & Trust in Garretson. We currently have a donor board placed inside the center honoring designated donations. This will be updated and new donations will be added to the current donors who are posted. All donations are tax deductible.
This addition is a very crucial factor for future growth in Garretson. We have a new housing addition, but we need to have room available in our center for young families to be able to move here. We are on Cleveringa Construction's calendar to start the project in April, 2022.
If you would like to take a tour of the current building or have any questions about the project, please contact a director or board member.
Director: Heidi Fink Assistant Director: Madeline Andrews
Board Members: Teresa Hulscher, Steve Carlson, Kim Fitzgerald, Kris Frerk, Todd Fink & Sam Williamson
