About Appleseed
The Beginning
In early 2020, a group of parents and grandparents in rural Rensselaer, Indiana, sat around a kitchen table to solve a problem. At the time, there were limited child care options in our area so we formed the non-profit organization, Appleseed Childhood Education, Inc. and got to work.
Over the next three years, Appleseed’s volunteer board would cultivate partnerships with local, state, and federal organizations to gather the key pieces of a sustainable rural child care center: the facility, the funding and the management.
The Progress
In March 2023, we opened Appletree Rensselaer, a 70-seat licensed child care and early learning center on the Franciscan Health Rensselaer campus with Right Steps Child Development Centers as our management/operator. Appletree Rensselaer serves children from various household incomes from birth through five years old, five days/week, 12 hours/day, 52 weeks/year.
At the time, we were Rensselaer’s largest new employer and created a new employment sector in our area. We offer full benefit packages to our employees who provide a high standard of child care every day.
From a kitchen table conversation to the opening of Appletree, our group was determined and successful. But our work is not done yet. We continue fundraising for Appletree and advocating for rural child care locally and nationally.
Historic Timeline
January 2019
It started at a farmhouse kitchen table…
June 2019
Jasper Newton Foundation helps us develop
August 2019
Jasper County Economic Development Organization advises us
January 2020
Appleseed Childhood Education incorporated
March 2020
Right Steps becomes managing partner
May 2020
Appleseed begins facility search
April 2021
Local corporate support begins
January 2022
Franciscan Health Rensselaer becomes facilities partner
January 2022
Jasper County Commissioners establish annual investment
January 2022
City of Rensselaer Redevelopment Commission invests
July 2022
Building renovations begin
March 2023
Appletree Rensselaer opens its doors!
October 2023
Appleseed and Franciscan Health Rensselaer awarded Critical Access Hospital Community Partnership Award by Indiana State Office of Rural Health
April 2024
Appletree celebrates first year