Excitement is Building

Williamsburg Community Child Care Center

Outlets Williamsburg is proud to announce the addition of a child care facility to the property. The facility is operated by the W4C’s, and will be their second location servicing Iowa County families.

Over the past year, W4C’s has worked with local businesses and industry to expand their current operation. “In early 2021 Bayer Williamsburg reached out to us for assistance in finding child care for their employees,” stated Sandy Joseph, W4C’s director. “We couldn’t expand our current location, so we started looking for a second location.”

Joseph reached out to Outlets Williamsburg (OW) in March of 2021 and OW jumped at the opportunity to provide this much-needed service to the community. “We understand the impact of quality child care on the current workforce shortage and feel this facility is a great contribution to our community,” stated Kristie Wetjen, OW General Manager. “In early 2020 our team started re-imagining our center. Everyone believes adding more community-focused amenities to play off our great outlet retailers is the best step to success,” says Wetjen.

Nearly 9,000 square feet of former retail space has been renovated to provide child care for 88 children, newborns to 3 years. The facility has seven classrooms, along with an outdoor play area. “This new facility allows us to grow our capacity by 54%, bringing our total number of children served to 250,” stated Joseph. Parts of Iowa County are considered a childcare desert. “We really feel this location is convenient for families across the county, not just Williamsburg.”

The project received a $406,888 grant through Future Ready Iowa Child Care Challenge and Investing in Iowa’s Child Care Grant. “This project is a great win for Iowa County,” stated Kate Robertson, executive director of Iowa County Community Development. “Rural Iowa needs to move the needle on workforce issues…this is a great step in making it easier for parents to join the local workforce.”

“This project and subsequent grant award illustrate the power of collaboration,” stated Robertson. “Multiple organizations, both for-profit and non-profit, came together to make this happen. Bayer Williamsburg and Compass Memorial Healthcare invested in the project. Outlets Williamsburg jumped in to provide design and buildout services.”

Learn more about the W4C’s, here.

Cove Equipment

Opening late summer 2022

Cove Equipment, an Eastern Iowa farm and home implement dealer, is set to join Outlets Williamsburg by late summer 2022.  Cove will carry a variety of new & used, farm, lawn, and garden equipment from brands including; New Holland, Kubota, and more.

The southeastern end of the center has undergone a large renovation to make room for the dealership. The renovations include the removal of nearly 15,000 square feet of building and long-term, the construction of an outdoor showroom – viewable from Interstate 80.

Learn more about Cove Equipment, here.