From left are Barb Smolen, with Launchpad; Sherry Searles, executive director of LaunchPad; Breanna Levy, director of the child care facility; Staci Young, assistant to Mayor Joe Thallemer; Mayor Joe Thallemer; Kari Speicher, Instrumental Machine & Development; Todd Speicher, IMD; Miriel McFarland, IMD, and Rob Parker, CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Miriel McFarland, director of education and training for Instrumental Machine & Development, talks to a small crowd assembled inside the child care facility on Park Avenue in Warsaw Friday, Dec. 2. Also pictured, from left, are the child care director Breanna Levy, Mayor Joe Thallemer, and IMD owner Todd Speicher. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Instrumental Machine & Development, with a workforce of 92 employees in Warsaw, is on the verge of providing a service normally limited to the Googles and Apples of the world.

On Friday, Dec. 2, the company got a boost when city officials presented a check for $70,192 from its American Rescue Plan Act balance to be used for the future childcare center on Park Avenue in Warsaw.

The goal of opening a child care center that would serve IMD’s own employees began three years ago and has been excruciatingly complicated, slow and cumbersome as the company – along with support from the Kosciusko County’s LaunchPad initiative and the Early Childhood Alliance – worked to develop a plan in uncharted territory.

Like many companies, IMD has recognized how important childcare is for employees and its impact on the company.

Providing the service is expected to help boost employer retention and recruitment as well as help young families become more financially successful.

On Friday, company owner Todd Speicher sounded appreciative of the progress but still stunned at the challenges involving regulations, zoning and other steps needed to make it work.

“Never did I ever expect it would be this kind of struggle,” said Todd Speicher.

IMD had hoped to open the facility at the start of the school year, but staffing the facility has proven to be challenging and now hopes to open in January.

The 1,600-square-foot center will accommodate ten children ages six weeks to pre-K from the hours of 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The former home has been fully renovated. The interior is bright, open and altered to expand sightlines for staff. Miniature sinks and toilets are ready for use.

The building includes a kitchen and various workstations for children inside and a surprisingly large enclosed backyard for outdoor play.

A sign outside the front yard calls it the “ABC IMD Learning Center.”

The ARPA money will be used for the roof, Todd Speicher said.

IMD bought the property, renovated it, and plans to subsidize much of the cost for parents to use the service, he said.

IMD is partnering with Early Childhood Alliance to provide a curriculum.

“This is a big step for our employees too,” said Miriel McFarland, director of education and training. “They are entrusting their greatest treasurer to come to this experiment. We feel very confident in the level of care ECA is providing.”

Mayor Joe Thallemer attended the short celebration and applauded the project and all who were part of it.

“It’s been a heck of an effort,” Thallemer said.

He suggested IMD’s work could serve as a set of best practices for other businesses to consider.

“That means an awful lot to the city,” he said.

He went as far as to suggest other companies could look into the idea and made it clear that more ARPA money is available to support similar projects.

One of the residual effects from increased childcare availability are the new job opportunities for those who would otherwise stay home with the kids, said Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce CEO Rob Parker.

Crayons and markers are lined up for future use at the childcare center. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.