RDA Recommends Early Learning Center Funding

The Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority’s board has voted to recommend $520,000 in Regional Cities Initiative funding for the Manchester Early Learning Center. The organization is seeking to construct a new facility in order to provide early childhood care and education to more children in the community.

If approved by the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the funding will go toward the $2.6 million project. The RDA says the new facility will not only accommodate more children, but the Manchester Early Learning Center will also double its staff.

"Working families need a safe and welcoming place to educate and care for their children. Investing in early childhood education means we are creating an attractive region for working families to live, work and succeed," said Jeff Turner, RDA board chairman. "The Manchester Early Learning Center is an opportunity for empowerment and growth of our region, our families and our children."

The IEDC is responsible for giving final approval to all Regional Cities Initiative funding requests. Several projects and organizations in the region have already received Regional Cities funding, including the Skyline Tower in Fort Wayne, the University of Saint Francis, Trine University and the DeKalb County YMCA, among others.