Saplings is growing.
In just five years, Saplings has built a reputation for providing high-quality early childhood education. As the demand for childcare continues to rise, it’s high time we address our mile-long waitlist!
With broad support from our community, we’re planning to expand our operations from 19 students per day to 54. That means we’re building a new facility! But don’t worry… we’re not going far. 😉
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Project Highlights
More Families, More Access
Our new program will more than double the number of children we serve and will now include infants.
Sustainable Operations
A larger, more efficient building will allow us to operate at a more sustainable scale while reducing administrative burden.
Community Vibrancy
A larger program means more young families in our area, more good jobs and more students who will succeed in school.
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Project Timeline
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Saplings completed a community child care needs assessment with third-party consultants. The final report showed that a 54-student program would be a more sustainable program, better able to meet local demand for child care.
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Community surveys and interviews demonstrated broad support for program expansion.
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Over 20 existing buildings were evaluated and none were deemed feasible for repurposing as our new facility. Two potential building sites identified for feasibilty studies.
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Following the results of the site feasibility studies, Sapings board of directors officially names the East Craftsbury field adjacent to Saplings’ present location as the future building site.
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Saplings hired Black River Design, an architecture firm with experience with projects like ours. They provided a conceptual design and cost estimate to guide our financing stage.
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2024 - 2025: With a project budget in hand, Saplings is securing funding while the architects finalize the building design.
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We’ll hire a general contractor and break ground on our new building!
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We anticipate welcoming the first class of students to use the new building in the fall of 2026.
Drawings by Black River Design Architects
FAQs
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Saplings was founded in 2015 after a Vermont Council on Rural Development community visit, where participants identified a critical need for accessible childcare. Initially run in a church basement, it served 12 children per day. The addition of a modular classroom later enabled Saplings to expand to 19 children per day, yet demand continues to exceed capacity.
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To remain financially viable: Scaling up will reduce administrative overhead and allow us to increase staff wages and benefits sustainably without overburdening fundraising efforts.
Our current site is inadequate: The East Craftsbury Presbyterian Church and modular classroom, which have served us since 2017, can no longer support our growing program. Our Act 250 waiver expires in 2026.
Preparation is complete: We conducted a third-party needs assessment, selected a site, built a budget, and hired experienced partners for planning and design.
Funding is available now: Senator Welch secured $3M through the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the Northern Border Regional Commission awarded $1M. We’re counting on community support to close the gap.
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Successful children: Increased opportunities, stronger school performance, and better long-term outcomes for kids in the region.
Healthy families: Parents gain access to reliable childcare, enabling financial security and stronger community connections.
Thriving businesses: Employers benefit from a more reliable workforce and healthier consumer base.
Strong rural communities: Livability for families improves, sparking economic growth and fostering resilience.
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Saplings is on solid financial footing, with a strong balance sheet. By securing grants and community support, we’ll minimize debt and ensure sustainability while keeping tuition rates affordable and offering competitive staff compensation.
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57.2% of children in Orleans County lack access to regulated childcare programs.
Saplings’ service area has a deficit of 189 slots.
Community support is strong: Expansion was identified as essential for long-term viability.
A new 54-child facility offers the best path forward, reducing administrative costs by 50% per child while keeping tuition affordable.
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We are positioned to hire 9 additional staff members by:
Fostering a collaborative work environment with professional development opportunities.
Offering competitive wages and benefits.
Partnering with local educational institutions to recruit new talent.
Supporting current staff to grow into larger roles.
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Saplings’ expansion will address the regional childcare shortage while complementing existing providers. Our flexible programming and community collaboration ensure that we meet local needs without undermining other services, strengthening the entire childcare ecosystem.
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The need for infant care is significant. While some families choose to wait until their child is older, others require care for infants due to work obligations. Saplings provides a safe, nurturing environment for infants, helping parents balance work and family responsibilities.
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Relocation Report (2021): Confirmed unmet demand for childcare and recommended expansion.
Initial Fundraising (2022): Secured over $100,000 for feasibility and planning.
Site Selection (2023): Evaluated options and chose the East Craftsbury site, located behind the current facility.
Concept Phase (2023-2024): Developed program details, site plans, and architectural renderings with Black River Design.
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Funding sources include:
77% State/Federal Grants: Including $3M from the Senate Appropriations Committee and $1M from the Northern Border Regional Commission.
17% Community Fundraising
6% Loan
The cost estimates were developed through a rigorous process with input from development consultants, architects, and professional estimators. They account for all project aspects, including construction, site development, ADA compliance, permitting, furnishings, and start-up costs. Estimates are forward-looking, incorporating inflation and rising post-COVID construction costs.
While costs have grown, additional state and federal funding has been secured to cover increases. By relying primarily on grants and community fundraising, we’ve minimized debt, ensuring financial stability and sustainability for the project.
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Saplings Expansion Committee:
Hannah Dreissigacker, Board Chair
Susie Houston, Board Member
Melissa Jacobs, Executive Director
Emily Gletsos, Program Director
David Koschak, Architect
Development and Design Partners:
Wagner Development Partners: Project management and community development experts.
Black River Design: Vermont-based architects specializing in educational and community projects.
KAS Associates: Civil and structural engineering.
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We’re seeking community support to close the funding gap and ensure the success of this vital project. If you’re interested in contributing or learning more, please reach out. Together, we can strengthen our community for future generations.We do not plan to open at full capacity. We will use the first 1-2 years to steadily increase enrollment and staffing in order to develop strong systems of support.
Drawings by Black River Design