A CHURCH-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER EXPANDS

Steam Academy cut the ribbon on a major expansion this month, adding 91 licensed child care spots to a regional market where demand has persistently outrun supply.

The West Lafayette center, located at 3504 Soldiers Home Road and operated as a ministry of River City Church, serves children from infancy through prekindergarten. Its curriculum integrates science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics through hands-on learning. The expansion — more than two years in the making — adds new classrooms and a two-story indoor play structure.

“This expansion represents an important step in meeting the growing need for high-quality child care and early learning in our community,” said Robby Bradford, River City Church’s lead pastor.

Greater Lafayette has seen consistent pressure on its early childhood infrastructure as the region has grown. Licensed spots for infants and toddlers — the most expensive and regulated category of child care — have remained especially scarce. The 91 new seats at Steam Academy represent one of the larger single additions to local capacity in recent years.

Child care, in this part of Indiana as in much of the country, has drifted beyond the boundaries of a family concern into persistent workforce challenges. When reliable care is hard to find, parents may reduce hours, turn down jobs or leave the labor force altogether. For employers, that can show up as higher turnover, more absenteeism and a smaller pool of available workers.

“Quality child care is a workforce issue. When families have reliable, affordable options for their youngest children, parents can stay in the labor force and employers can retain the talent they need,” said Mikel Berger, president and CEO of Greater Lafayette Commerce. “Steam Academy’s expansion is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens our regional economy from the ground up.”

The project drew support from Early Learning Indiana and the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, both of which have in recent years directed funding toward closing what child care advocates call an “access gap,” which is the distance between what families need and what the local market provides.

Lisa Glaser, vice president of River City Church Childcare Ministries, said the organization intends to keep expanding access. “Our commitment to serving families and expanding affordable access to high-quality early childhood education in our community remains as strong as ever,” she said.

Enrollment is open. A public open house is scheduled for May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. Families can schedule a tour at mysteamacademy.com.

River City Church also operates a food pantry and community center serving Tippecanoe County and surrounding areas.