(Audubon, IA)) – Representatives with the Audubon County Early Childhood Organization (ACECO) took to social media, Saturday morning, to thank everyone who took the time to take the survey, and to update the plans for the Children’s Nest Daycare Center, moving forward. The Center closed in Sept., 2025, after its Director stepped-down. The Center is a product of the Audubon County Early Child Care Organization.
The board said Saturday, it was overwhelmed the survey responses and greatly appreciated your feedback. There were over 200 responses that provided much needed information that the board used to make the best decision possible. The board members are all parents themselves and understand the importance of daycare.
The survey identified that there are currently not enough providers at this time. The current providers are at full capacity with waitlists. Families are forced to seek daycare outside of the county, parents are leaving the workforce due to lack of available spaces, and parents are working reduced hours.
Affordability is the largest hurdle for the childcare center – rates and enrollment greatly affect the success of a childcare center.
The example given in the survey was the potential weekly tuition rates of $235 for an infant, children ages 2-5 $195, and part-time rates starting at $150. These numbers came from increasing wages for employees to help ensure the best leadership and staffing for the center. Basic operating costs was another factor to the potential tuition rates. The childcare center needs to change from operating as a non-profit to a business model to be able to successfully operate as a childcare center.
The prior tuition rates and enrollment numbers left the center with a $50,000 – $60,000 deficit annually, which was a contributing factor for the closure. In 2024, the average childcare cost per week in the State of Iowa was $200-$350 for infants and $180-$300 for children ages 2-5. The survey results showed that less than 50% of the participants would enroll their children at the potential rates mentioned above.
The ACECO board was tasked with researching the future viability of re-opening a center in Audubon. The board members have met several times a month since the closure to gather information about finances, the need in our area, comparisons to other centers- how do they operate, challenges and enrollment numbers, researched available resources, and causes that contributed to the center closing. The survey was the last bit of information that board felt was needed to make the best decision.
At this time, officials say, after reviewing all of the gathered information. The board feels that they have looked at all possible avenues and have determined that while it is clearly needed, it financially cannot re-open without the center being completely full with increased tuition rates.
They concluded by saying “We are hopeful that an organization, individual, or community group will want to open a center in the future. Any inquires please contact the ACECO board at audubonchildren@gmail.com.”
