City of Decatur approves renovations of ‘Wee Folks’ building

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The renovation and modernization of a shuttered daycare facility in Decatur now has official approval from the city council.

On Monday, the Decatur City Council approved the use of around $730,000 in funding from COVID-related funds to rehabilitate the old Wee Folks building, located at 1170 Orchard Street. The daycare closed during the pandemic and the city bought the building in December .

Along with approving the money, the city council also approved contracts on the individual projects — asbestos abatement, painting, flooring, the fire suppression system and a new HVAC unit.

City officials said the daycare’s closure left a significant gap in childcare availability in Decatur’s urban core. Council members agreed that renovating the Wee Folks building is critical to goals they have toward workforce development and it aligns with the city’s Jasper Street Great Streets Great Neighborhoods initiative.

With the rehabilitation of the building, a new daycare — Love Learning and Laughter Daycare — will move in, immediately offering 250 childcare spots and with plans to expand to 750 spaces for kids in the future.

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