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Hello Again Friends and Supporters of our Loving Neighbors Preschool Project!
February has been an exciting and encouraging month for our Loving Neighbors Preschool Steering Team and NLCC. We are so happy to report on the progress we’ve made over the past month and our key steps needed to meet our planned September 2023 opening.
As always….let’s start with the financials...
Our current financial status is as follows:
- Funds Needed - $170,014 (Start up funds needed for building updates to meet code, a playground, supplies, furniture, and staffing - This number is slightly lower than January’s summary, due to some cost updates.)
- Donations/Grants/Trusts (in hand or promised): $138,919
- ◦$50,000 - Presbytery of Mackinac Grant - tied to matching funds from our fundraising
- ◦$5000 - Elk Rapids Presbyterian Church grant
- ◦$4376 - Robert’s Trust
- ◦$10,000 - State of Michigan Pre-licensure Grant.
- ◦$69,542 - Fundraising from our generous donors both near and far.
- Remaining funds needed: $31,095!! - Getting so close! We are very encouraged by and so thankful for your generous donations.
News/Progress:
- Our architect has nearly completed our drawings. We’ve had him add cubbies near our entrance to the preschool and a reading nook for our children, along with the other building updates already planned. So exciting!!
- We met with a contractor last week. He has experience with schools, so it seems like he will be a great fit for us. He is currently working on pricing for our project….so you will see another financial update in March. Our contractor is anxious to begin work in March! YAY!!
- The Fire Variance requested in December will be reviewed (on site at NLCC) next week by the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (one month delayed). Once we get that completed, we can begin construction.
- We now have 5 families on our wait list! At this point, we are planning for a September 2023 opening. If you know of families looking for daycare in the fall of 2023, please have them contact us.
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Immediate Major Next Steps:
- Finish building permit process, begin building updates.
- Finalize our business plan.
- Begin search for a director. Hire date is June 1, 2023
- Continue to fundraise and apply for grants (several in process) to raise remaining funds needed.
If you are considering giving an additional donation to Loving Neighbors Preschool to help us meet our new goal of $31,000, we’ve included the “how to donate” information below.
There are a couple ways to donate:
• Send a check to "Northern Lakes Community Church - Loving Neighbors Preschool", 5444 Herkner Road, Traverse City, MI. 49685. Please put “Loving Neighbors Preschool” in the memo area of your check!
• Visit Northern Lakes Community Church website (northernlakescc.org). Our menu has a link to the Preschool Project and the donation link.
• Or use this link to donate - Give to "Loving Neighbors Preschool”
We are a little church on a big mission…. We would not be where we are today without you! We can’t thank you enough for your support, your prayers and for encouraging us on this mission to serve our community.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions or suggestions for our Loving Neighbors Preschool project.
Julie Burton
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