A corridor would connect Mercy Road Church Northeast in Fortville (not shown) to this planned 15,500-square-foot building east of the church.
FORTVILLE — A local church plans to house a childcare in a building it plans to add to its campus.
Mercy Road Church Northeast recently conducted a capital campaign among the congregation with the aim of raising $2.5 million toward the project, a 15,500-square-feet building that would expand space for Mercy Kids children’s programming on Sundays and house a childcare through the week.
Church leaders anticipate construction will take about a year and cost around $4 million total. When that work will start depends on when the first $1.25 million comes in.
Lead pastor Ken Primeau recalls a 9:30 a.m. service a few weeks ago when there were 103 children. He said recent numbers suggest the need for additional space beyond the more than 18,000-square-feet church building at 611 Vitality Drive.
“This will give us the opportunity, space wise, to at least double that amount of kids in a service,” Primeau said.
Meanwhile, Primeau said the church had been considering how it might use more of its campus to meet community needs. He said he talked to area leaders in government and economic development about biggest needs of the future.
“I just kept hearing child care … wait list for child care … parents not having enough affordable child care in the area,” Primeau said. So it seemed like a win-win, he said, to add a children’s space that would expand capacity on Sunday mornings and, Monday through Friday, house a full-time daycare and after-school care.
Vernon Township Trustee Florence May was one of the leaders the church consulted. She said while there are programs in the area — including Gateway Community Church of Fortville, Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville and the Kids City USA location that opened in July in McCordsville — the demand for child care is large enough that need remains.
“In McCordsville and Fortville, we are welcoming a large number of young families and expect that this trend will continue for many years,” May wrote in an email. “The need for affordable childcare and after school options is evident. Young parents search for options by calling schools, local officials, and other community organizations. The sheer volume of childcare requests on social media groups is staggering. Openings at home care programs are rare and fill very quickly.
“We are fortunate that the leadership of Fortville’s Mercy Road Church, our neighbor on Vitality Drive, is committed to providing young families childcare options.”
Church leaders also talked to Hancock Economic Develoment Council, who also cited child care as a significant need in Hancock County.
“It’s top of mind for us and our partners as we focus on community development efforts,” wrote Mitchell Kirk, HEDC’s communications director. “Mercy Road’s intentions to have child care as a focus of this building is an excellent step toward improving these circumstances. We’re grateful for their mindfulness of community needs as well as their desire and efforts to help.”
The facility is expected to accomodate 156 children between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Another 30 slots would be available for after-school care. Primeau said the church will partner with Lionheart Children’s Academy, which will operate the childcare and hire staff. “They help churches to run affordable, high-quality … centers across the country,” he said. “They’re a well-respected organization in this industry.”
The plans for the building at Mercy Road include a large children’s worship space, 10 classrooms, preschool offices, a lobby/check-in area, restrooms for children and adults, two fenced outdoor playgrounds and an indoor playground. Primeau said the hope is to also offer some public playground hours.
Ground has not been broken on a building, but dirt was pushed from here to there recently as the church expanded its parking area. Primeau said church leaders asked the civil engineer working on the parking lot to draft a site plan that includes an added building. Dirt moved for the parking lot work, completed in September, was added to the building site.
Some members of the congregation have committed to give toward the project over the next three years. At last report, $1.8 million has been committed so far.
“It’s a win win for everyone that our building wouldn’t sit empty,” said associate pastor Corinne Gunter. “What we’re attempting to do is insprire generosity within our congregation.”
“God’s given us this 18 acres,” Primeau said. ” … I feel strongly it’s not just for us.”
