The day the Greensboro Early Learning Center re-opened is a day the kids won’t forget.   “They were blown away,” says Beth LeCours, co-director of the Center.  “When they looked at their classroom, it was different – the cubbies, the floors, the lights…At first they just stared in awe.” The Center, a historic former schoolhouse located in Greensboro Bend, had metamorphosed from a deteriorating structure to a quality space for a quality program.  This seemingly magical transformation was the result of months of hard work, dedication, and providential timing.

In the fall of 2001, the Center faced the prospect of closing.  Their rented building was substandard and needed many improvements. “If we didn’t do the renovations on the building to make it adhere to safety standards and handicapped accessibility,” LeCours recalls, “we weren’t going to be in compliance with licensing and would be forced to close or find another site, and there are no other sites available.” The desire to stay in their building was understandable –they wanted to retain their connection to the Greensboro Bend community and the historic property by purchasing and renovating their building.  The renovations would make the building not only fully accessible and in compliance with licensing, but also adequate to secure accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  The goal was clear, but the path to it was muddy at best.

Hanging on through the use of high-interest credit card debt, the board and staff heard about VCLF from a community member who told LeCours, “Hope Campbell (VCLF’s director of business lending) lives here in town.  Talk to Hope and see what she can do.”

LeCours went on,   “This really came at a critical time.”

Recognizing the need to help the Center move ahead, VCLF made a $25,000 operating capital loan to sustain the Center during the transition and to hire staff for grant writing and the financial management of the Center.   This small loan proved to be the link between a struggling learning center and its vibrant future.

After securing the VCLF loan, the Center successfully applied for a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant through the State of Vermont.   “The staff was cheering and the kids were cheering. That was really the turning point,” remembers LeCours.  The grant award, coupled with a $26,900 Community Facility Loan and a $19,125 Community Facility Grant from the USDA Rural Development, led to the renaissance of the Early Learning Center.  The schoolhouse was purchased in the spring of 2002, and renovations began shortly thereafter.  With the financing and plans in place, the challenge remaining was completing major renovations in eight short weeks.  “Everything had to happen in two months’ time,” says LeCours.  “It’s still kind of a blur how everything came together – but it did.”

After a hectic summer of juggling kids and space, the Greensboro Early Learning Center returned home to a safe, fully accessible, beautiful environment.  The historic characteristics of the building were retained, including much of the original woodwork and the large, sunny schoolhouse windows.  The renovated basement provides a spacious, bright activity area, staff room, and kitchen for their innovative nutrition program. The program has also become NAEYC accredited.

The rehabilitated schoolhouse not only provides an excellent learning environment for children, but also a quality workplace for staff.  “It’s a wonderful place to spend the day,” notes LeCours.  “The staff loves it.”

Like many other organizations, The Greensboro Early Learning Center came to VCLF when they were at a crossroads.  “The timing of the VCLF funding was critical,” recalls LeCours.  “The question was whether to go forward or to close the doors.”

“This is what we’re all about,” says VCLF’s Executive Director, Dick Mansfield. “Being there at the right time and being flexible and creative.  It’s a great example of how a small loan can make a huge impact.”