HUMBOLDT — A concrete slab has been poured as construction continues on a multi-purpose health center and daycare facility in Humboldt. The Humboldt school district, in conjunction with the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, announced in February 2024 they had been awarded a nearly $5 million grant by the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. The grant is made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
The new center — Cubs Community Care Center — is being constructed at the Humboldt Sports Complex on Central Street west of town. The facility will include a daycare center, a center for virtual education, a health clinic that includes mental health services, and a pharmacy.
“The different programs in the building will open at different times,” said Amber Wheeler, USD 258 superintendent. “The daycare is on track to open in August.”
The daycare will offer 24 slots, two rooms of 12 each, targeting infants and toddlers. The school district will manage the daycare program, which means staff will be district employees and be eligible for benefits such as health care and health insurance, retirement and life insurance.
The program also plans to offer paid apprenticeships in early childhood to high school and college students, who will work at the daycare.
The district’s virtual education program also will move to the center. That includes staff offices and study rooms.
Space also will be available to businesses, entrepreneurs and others who need to access broadband and computer services as well as meeting and training space.
Ashley Clinic will provide primary care, pharmacy, mental health and case management services at the new facility.
HUMBOLDT is one of seven awardees out of more than 40 applicants for the grants and the only school district to receive funds. The district was awarded $4,970,400.
The first round of grants provided $10.3 million to three community projects in Lawrence, Hays and Emporia. The second round provided $28 million to programs in Humboldt, Great Bend, Clay County, Manhattan, Overland Park, Atchison and Wichita. Together, the combined $38 million will create 771 new child care slots.
“We originally thought we might need to hurry up,” said Wheeler, referencing the recent freeze on many federal funds. The federal funding freeze by the Trump administration this past January left many recipients concerned with the dispensing of previously awarded grants.
“We visited with our grant people and they believe we are fine,” assured Wheeler. “The state received funds and signed an agreement with the Children’s Cabinet, and then we signed an agreement with the state. Contracts have already been signed and the money has already been granted.”
Construction is moving right along, noted Wheeler. The next step in the process is assembling the prefabricated building onsite in the upcoming weeks. Wheeler added that all of the grant money has to be allocated by September of this year.
