First Things First Porter County (FTF) continues to build momentum through a $1 million grant from Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).
Managed by Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF), the funds will propel new and existing projects including:
- Building Blocks multimedia project
- Bright By Text
- Help Me Grow (HMG) Porter County
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
- Creekside Early Learning Center at Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities
Presented by Lakeshore Public Media, Building Blocks (premiering September 2024), will consist of a six-part television docu-series exploring the science behind early childhood development in addition to radio broadcast components that will allow for expanded conversations around specific topics related to early development. Lakeshore will also create a hub of resources and information supporting early childhood development, which will be accessible on Lakeshore Public Media’s media channels.
Bright by Text is a free service that sends prenatal and parenting advice via text message from pregnancy through age nine. These messages are age-based (to meet the specific needs of a child), topic-based (to provide support about specific concerns), and location-based (keeping families apprised of Porter County events and opportunities). Caregivers can enroll by texting PORTER to 274 448.
FTF will continue its support of HMG Porter County—a centralized access point for connecting caregivers of young children to community resources like developmental screenings, prenatal and postpartum care, parenting education, social support, housing and financial assistance.
Funding is also allocated to sustain Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which sends an age-appropriate book to every enrolled child from birth through age five. Since 2023, Porter County Public Library System and Westchester Public Library have contributed financial and administrative support, allowing over 2,900 Porter County children to grow their home libraries.
As the demand for quality childcare persists, Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities is opening a 9,000 square foot facility in Portage with capacity for 135 children. Rebecca Reiner, NEO’s founding executive director, states “The support from First Things First, READI, and all of our donors for this project is amazing and VITAL to the success of this project and campaign. We are grateful beyond words!”
“With this funding from READI, we are positioned to support a wide variety of initiatives to support our youngest ones, their caregivers, and the entire community system for pregnant women, infants and toddlers,” said Mary Jane Eisenhauer, Executive Director of First Things First Porter County.
Launched by Gov. Holcomb and led by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), READI encourages regional collaboration and data-driven, long-term planning that will attract and retain talent in Indiana. The $500 million READI fund was passed by legislation during the 2021 session and was divided among 17 regions. Through READI, 17 regions across the state that represent all 92 counties are moving forward with projects and programs designed to enhance Indiana’s regions for current and future generations of Hoosiers. Collectively, the state’s $500 million investment is expected to yield an additional $9.86 billion public, private and nonprofit dollars invested (19.72:1 investment leverage ratio) in enhancing Indiana’s quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity.
About First Things First Porter County
Because early childhood development affects every aspect of our community, the Porter County Community Foundation launched FTF in 2021 to strengthen, sustain and nurture partnerships to promote healthy beginnings, family support and quality early experiences. FTF catalyzes community partners to create a thriving ecosystem of care and support ensuring every baby born in Porter County has a strong start to life. FTF brings together organizations, providers and individuals across the county working to mitigate families' challenges when they welcome a baby home. For more information, please visit FirstThingsPC.org.
