City of Titonka Awarded Power of Connection Community Grant

Funds will facilitate preliminary planning for additional childcare options

TITONKA, Iowa (Nov. 6, 2024) - An initiative to launch flexible and reliable childcare in Titonka has received a $5,000 Power of Connection grant jointly administered by ITC Midwest and the Iowa Rural Development Council.

A small group of community members administered a survey to identify firsthand the scarcity of childcare options in the community of Titonka. After confirming a need, the concept of "We Care Childcare" was conceived by trustees Laurie Lee, Debbie Harms, Rachel Kurtzleben, Pastor John Heille and Josh Bergstrom. Additional contributors to the project include Alan Boyken, Damien Strecker and Maddie Post.

"Since local childcare is predominately found in-home, or privately, our employers constantly struggle to find flexible and reliable providers," said Laurie Lee "We Care Childcare would provide additional childcare options, eliminating barriers and attracting additional businesses to our community."

The Power of Connection grant program is intended to help fund feasibility studies, strategic planning and non-construction/equipment elements of a rural project. In Titonka, the ITC Midwest funding will be used to facilitate architectural renderings and determine the feasibility of additional options including the community childcare center.

"Childcare in rural areas is challenging for parents and as a result, economic development is limited and sustainability is challenged," said ITC Midwest President Dusky Terry. "We are pleased to assist with the renderings for a new community childcare center as we believe the results will lead to solutions to foster continued economic growth in the area."

About the Power of Connection Program
The Power of Connection community grant program is an initiative of ITC Midwest and the Iowa Rural Development Council (IRDC). This innovative economic development program is designed to pair rural communities seeking assistance with IRDC resource teams. Those teams drive both community conversations and solution development for problems or projects.

Communities eligible for the Power of Connection program must have populations of under 10,000 and be outside of a metropolitan area. Power of Connection grant dollars cannot be used for construction, real estate or equipment.

About ITC Midwest
ITC Midwest LLC is a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electricity transmission company in the U.S. ITC Midwest operates more than 6,600 circuit miles of transmission lines in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, and holds utility status in Wisconsin. ITC Midwest is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and maintains regional operating facilities in Dubuque, Iowa City and Perry, Iowa; and Albert Lea and Lakefield, Minnesota. For further information visit www.itc-holdings.com. ITC is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.

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Media Contacts:
Bill Menner, Executive Director, Iowa Rural Development Council
[email protected] or 641-990-4757

Darcy Moulin, Senior Communications Specialist, ITC Midwest
[email protected]or 319-297-6837

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