Growing Bear Daycare and Preschool is 2018 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner ...

The Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) Board of Directors announced Growing Bear Daycare and Preschool, Inc as the 2018 Cloy Kuhse Positive Impact Award winner at the ACED Annual Meeting hosted in Waukon Thursday, October 18. This annual award was created to highlight and recognize a business that is making a positive impact in Allamakee County, as well as to honor the memory of Cloy Kuhse and his vision. Growing Bear now joins the list of annual award recipients including New Albin Savings Bank, Waukon Dental, Mike Ferring Construction of Waukon, TASC of Waukon, Wuennecke’s Meat Market of New Albin, and Norplex-Micarta of Postville. Allamakee County Economic Development Executive Director Val Reinke shared with the audience in attendance, “Quality of Place is the drawing card to recruiting talent and attracting companies. Quality of Place includes housing, childcare and transportation. Quality childcare means happy kids, parents and employers. The impact childcare has on economic development is priceless.”

Growing Bear Daycare and Preschool, Inc is owned by Jessie and Jaime Waters of Waukon. The nomination for the award included the following information: Licensed for 81 children and serves children six weeks to 12 years of age; Partners with the school to offer the statewide voluntary four-year-old preschool program; Follows Quality Preschool Program Standards, which is a level above what is required by the State of Iowa for licensing; A designated bus stop before and after school, which alleviates transportation issues for school-age children; Offers five programs, including infant, toddler, three-year-old, four-year-old and school-age; Utilizes their resources to support the quality of care they desire, including working with Child Care Resource & Referral, Child Care Nurse Consultants, Keystone AEA and Allamakee Community School District; Willing to go above and beyond what is required and takes suggestions seriously to ensure quality standards are met; Jessie Waters obtained her National Administrator’s Credential (40-hour course) and is a member of National Association for the Education of Young Children; All programs offer parent conferences; Field trips are planned to help round out the curriculum offered. Child Care Consultant Teri Orr with Child Care Resource & Referral, parent Meagan Hammell, Childcare Nurse Consultant Darla Butikofer and Regional Child Care Consultant with Infant/Toddler Specialty Beth Hanisch helped with the organization and submission of the nomination.

Pictured above in the submitted photo at the award presentation are Growing Bear Daycare and Preschool, Inc. owners Jessie and Jaime Waters (center of front row) surrounded by family members, staff members, parents and children served by Growing Bear, and members of the Allamakee County Economic Development Board of Directors.