Gentex and ODC Network Break Ground on Innovative Preschool
05 Maio 2023 - 2:10PM
Dozens of representatives from educational institutions, community
organizations, economic development groups, and state and local
government gathered today in Zeeland, Michigan, as Gentex
Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX) and the ODC Network (ODC) broke ground
on the Gentex Discovery Preschool, an on-site daycare center and
preschool designed to provide quality, subsidized childcare for the
children of Gentex employees.
“Improving access to affordable, quality childcare is a goal
shared by all the groups represented here today,” said Gentex
President and CEO Steve Downing. “Finding and paying for childcare
has increasingly become a burden for far too many in our community.
It’s a barrier to employment that also negatively affects child
development, household financial stability, and overall economic
growth. We trust this facility will become a meaningful benefit for
Gentex employees, allow individuals to reenter the workforce, and
create childcare openings throughout the community.”
The Gentex Discovery Preschool: An ODC Network Early Childcare
Center, will consist of a 43,000-square-foot facility to be built
on Gentex’s corporate campus in Zeeland. It will include 12 daycare
rooms, three infant rooms, office and common space, a food
preparation area, and indoor play center. There will also be many
outdoor nature-based playscapes and a fishing pond.
The facility will be owned by Gentex and operated by the ODC
Preschools division of the ODC Network. ODC Preschools provides
nature-based childcare and early childhood education programming.
Children spend time outdoors each day, learning through active play
and exploration.
“Employer-based childcare centers are strategically important to
the continued growth of West Michigan,” said ODC’s CEO Travis
Williams. “They benefit the employer by helping attract and retain
talent, the economy by expanding the workforce, and children by
reducing the achievement gap and improving health and educational
outcomes.”
The Gentex Discovery Preschool will be the first of its kind in
the area, due in part to its extended hours of operation, which
will accommodate the children of both first- and second-shift
workers, with a capacity target of up to 250 children per shift.
Gentex plans to offer discounted childcare rates as a benefit of
employment.
Over the past couple years, Gentex has been systematically
addressing some of the region’s most significant barriers to
employment. In 2021, the company launched Spanish-speaking assembly
lines to expand employment opportunities for West Michigan’s
growing Hispanic community. Today, over 200 Spanish-speaking
employees work on various production lines throughout the
company.
Later this month, the company plans to open a satellite
production facility in the Madison Square neighborhood of Grand
Rapids. By expanding its manufacturing footprint, Gentex plans to
boost its employee base and provide greater access to well-paying
jobs for those unlikely to commute to Zeeland due to rising
transportation costs.
ODC Preschools' mission is to provide quality,
nature-based, early childhood experiences that prepare young
children to be active, independent learners with a lifelong
connection to the natural world. ODC Preschools is one of ODC
Network's nine divisions.
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX) is a supplier
of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics to the
automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for aviation
markets, and fire protection products to the fire protection
market. Visit the company website at www.gentex.com.
Gentex Media ContactCraig Piersma(616)
772-1590 x4316craig.piersma@gentex.com |
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ODC Network Media ContactAlexa Redick(616)
502-1386alexa@outdoordiscovery.org |
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Gentex Investor Relations ContactJosh
O’Berski(616) 772-1800 x5814josh.oberski@gentex.com |
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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ade0bd63-c7d1-41b8-94f7-88e1843789be
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/520defa3-a1dc-4fcd-9856-70d129fcdc36
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e786dc0-47da-4bd6-afcf-c1c36be6dce1
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d26475c-3af1-49e7-94ae-f5b1cbb43809
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