As Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities executive director Rebecca Reiner put it, the 12-year-old education-based organization has never shied away from challenges.
Now, NEO, which operates New Vistas High School, at 5201 U.S. 6 in Portage, is tackling the childcare shortage.
It’s turning a 9,000 square-foot space in the former bowling alley’s northeast side into the $2.2 million Creekside Early Learning Center, equipped to enroll about 130 children from infants to school age.
On Sunday, NEO officials accepted a $750,000 donation from United Way Northwest Indiana to push it closer to its fund-raising goal.
“Childcare has always been a challenge for this area,” Reiner told an audience that included several children who attended NEO’s Back to School Bash. “Three years ago, a seed was planted in this 70,000 square foot building.”
That marked the beginning of the $2.2 million campaign, called Rising Up, to provide affordable childcare. JuliAnn Nisevich, NEO instructor, said the campaign has already secured $1.7 million or about 80% of its goal.
“The childcare situation in Portage and the surrounding community is sad,” she said. “There’s not enough quality childcare.”
NEO is seeking sponsors to finish up its campaign, offering naming rights to classrooms in exchange for contributions. Reiner said the 1st Source Foundation is backing the preschool room.
Another supporter, Tony Peuquet, of Chester Construction Inc., has partnered with NEO for the past 11 years. Chester is completing the renovation work and is supporting the campaign.
“I’ve seen the opportunities created here,” he said. “Rebecca Reiner is an opportunities machine.”
NEO, a non-profit, opened New Vistas High School, an alternative charter high school that serves dropouts in 2016 and it runs adult education and credit recovery programs for students and classes for students studying to become naturalized citizens.
“We are always happy to team up with agencies in the Region that are focused on uplifting the area by helping residents with financial stability, their health and educational opportunities,” said United Way NWI President/CEO Adam O’Doherty.
The new childcare center, set to open in the fall, is being leased to Stepping Stones Early Learning Center in Portage.
Childcare and classrooms are under construction that can care for infants as young as six weeks old. Outdoor spaces outside the classroom are also part of the design.
“When community groups like the United Way Northwest Indiana, NEO and Stepping Stones work together, we can lift up our whole community,” said Reiner.
For more information, visit neoadulted.org/rising-up/.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
