Child care center to expand, break ground in Normal
Katie's Kids adds more than 100 day care slots, 50 new jobs

April 16, 2009

A Bloomington-Normal child care center will break ground Friday, April 17 on a new site that was partially funded through the Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias’ Employ Illinois program.

Katie’s Kids, located at 2003 Jacobssen Road in Normal, will save more than $213,000 in interest over the next five years thanks to Employ Illinois, Giannoulias said.

Under the program, the state is depositing $1.3 million at First State Bank of Bloomington as an incentive for the bank to lend the same amount to Katie’s Kids at a discounted, 5 percent interest rate.

The center, which is the second Katie’s Kids location in Bloomington-Normal, will create more than 100 additional child care slots and up to 50 new jobs in the region at a time when many industries are announcing layoffs.

“When our economy is shrinking, we strive to partner with local lenders and small business owners to expand services, create jobs and support working families,” Giannoulias said.

Katie’s Kids will serve children six weeks to 6 years old and features a low adult-to-child ratio, said executive director Maureen Kelly. Among other attributes, it has an on-site chef who prepares nutritious meals and a large outdoor play area with a water park feature.

“Our original location is at full capacity with an active waiting list,” said Kelly, who co-owns Katie’s Kids with J.D. Stelle of Stelle Construction. “This expansion will help us meet the needs of our community.”

The Treasurer’s Office began offering loans to child care providers in 1998. More than $28 million has been deposited in child care programs, reflecting 80 providers and about 5,000 child care slots.

Katie’s Kids is the second child care loan recipient in Bloomington-Normal in as many years.

Hard Hat Ventures worked with the Treasurer’s Office and Small Business Administration to receive affordable financing to build Scribbles Center for Learning at 1415 Woodbine Road in Bloomington.

Both Katie’s Kids and Scribbles Center for Learning were referred to the Employ Illinois program through their banker, Matt Parson, currently a vice president at First State Bank of Bloomington.

“The state’s linked deposit programs provide local lenders access to capital and free up money for business owners to reinvest in their core operations,” Parson said.

Employ Illinois also offers low-interest loans to small business owners and active duty reservists. If you have questions or need more information, call (312) 814-8953 or e-mail employillinois@treasurer.state.il.us.

Applications are available online at www.treasurer.il.gov if you follow the Employ Illinois link.