A new not-for-profit daycare has opened its doors in Ainsworth, bringing more daycare options for area families. Little Lions Daycare is located at the old elementary school building on Park Street. The daycare opened January 1st, and currently offers full-time and part-time childcare Monday through Friday.

As a nonprofit, Director of the Board Sarah Edgar says the goal of the daycare is not to generate profit from the daycare, but to give back to the community, children, and families. Profits will be used to improve the daycare or retain staff. Edgar says getting the word out, enrollment, and employment will be early challenges that the daycare faces, “As we opened our doors in the new year, we continued the previous daycare operation that was going there. But we had a wonderful staff from there come and stay with us, and so just making sure we’re going to continue that and everything.”

According to Iowa Childcare Connect, Washington County has 573 active childcare slots and a demand of 3,810 encompassing all ages. 

Little Lions Daycare is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The daycare accepts kids ages from six weeks old to 16 years of age, regardless of where they live.