PROJECT STATEMENT
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The first floor of a centrally located commercial building will be renovated into a resale shop. People from East St. Louis, St. Louis, and surrounding areas will donate good quality clothing for women, men, and children. People in East St. Louis want and are willing to buy this clothing at affordable prices. Employees will be available to take donations, sort clothes, iron clothes, wait on customers, and run the cash register. Profits from the store will be reinvested into the day care. There will be a paid staff of three employees a day for the resale shop. The shop will be open every day of the year from 10am to 5pm except major holidays. The resale department will not have a public restroom the first year of operation. It also will not wash or dry clean clothing before sale, to hold down costs the first year. It will also not take credit cards the first year, to hold down costs. The shop will apply for not-for-profit status.
The second floor will be renovated into a twenty-eight child day care facility. The day care will be open from 7am to 7pm. The staff will be composed of nine employees. Three staff members will be present at all hours of operation. The staff will work one of two daily six hour shifts being either 7am to 1pm or 1pm to 7pm. The staff will include one full-time director (with an advanced degree in child care), one child care worker (with some college training), and one child care assistant (with at least a high school education or GED). No children will be cared for under the age of two (due to second floor location of facility). The facility will meet all the required guidelines as described by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Illinois Department of Human Services. These requirements are reflected in the budget and staffing. The weekly fee for one child will be $65. The facility may apply for not-for-profit status, which would allow the facility to be exempt from property and sales tax and possibly reduce the weekly rate. Future expansion would be possible with an expanded staff.
A small recreation area for both the public and the day care will be created on the property or on a neighboring vacant lot. This area would have playground equipment and sitting areas (benches and tables) for adults. In addition, the area would be replanted with native vegetation. A four foot chain-link fence would surround the entire area to protect children and deter vandalism.
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A DESCRIPTION OF COSTS AND BENEFITS
A COMPARISON
OF COSTS AND BENEFITS