New Everbrook Academy Childcare Center in Ames to Open Doors
State grants and investments from Danfoss Power Solutions create state-of-the-art Learning Care school benefiting Danfoss employees and the broader community
Aimes, Iowa, Sept. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Danfoss Power Solutions and Learning Care will celebrate the completion of Everbrook Academy, a new 16,000-square-foot early childcare center located on the Danfoss campus, with a ribbon-cutting event on Sept. 22 at 1 p.m.
Everbrook Academy will open its doors Sept. 21 and is excited to welcome children of Danfoss employees and the broader Ames community. The new school will offer premium early education and childcare, after-school care, and summer programming for children from 6 weeks to 12 years of age.
The completion of the school comes after years of planning, dating back to an idea submitted four years ago during a Danfoss employee sustainability challenge. A small team of employees proposed that Danfoss support the development of a childcare center due to the challenges local employees experienced in securing care for their young children. This issue was largely caused by a decline in the number of Iowa daycare facilities following the pandemic, which has caused a statewide shortage of more than 40,000 slots.
The proposal gained the support of Danfoss leadership, as well as the state of Iowa. Danfoss was awarded a total of $3,015,000 in matching grants through the Child Care Business Incentive Awards, designed to make it easier for Iowans to find childcare options through their employer. Henkel Construction was selected as the general contractor last year, and construction started in October.
Heath Sinn, Senior Director of the Danfoss Ames campus, is proud of the school and how it will benefit employees and their families. He expects it to become a powerful tool for recruiting and retention.
“Danfoss is growing, and our employees are our most valuable asset,” Sinn said. “We are excited that we could create a convenient onsite solution to address our employees’ need for high-quality childcare. And thanks to support from the state of Iowa and the operational expertise of Learning Care, this beautiful school has plenty of space to serve the needs of many local working families. The center is amazing, and we think that families will be really impressed.”
Learning Care partners with employers to build childcare benefits that fit their workforce, from on-site centers like Everbrook Academy to reserved enrollment spaces at its more than 1,100 schools across the nation.
“Danfoss saw what a lot of employers are now catching up to: that offering childcare as a workforce benefit is a competitive advantage,” said Ian Fleming, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Learning Care. “We brought nearly 60 years of operational expertise to this partnership so Danfoss didn’t have to build a childcare solution from scratch. The result is an onsite school that gives its employees, and working families across Ames, one less impossible choice to make between their job and their child.”
Along with Learning Care, Henkel Construction was also a key partner in this project because of its strong background in childcare and education centers. Even with the addition of a multipurpose room in the preconstruction phase that added about 30% to Everbrook Academy’s footprint, construction was completed well ahead of schedule.
“Through strong collaboration with Danfoss, the design team, and our trade partners, we were able to accelerate the schedule by more than two months and deliver the facility well ahead of schedule, even while working through the winter,” said Matthew Green, Henkel Project Manager. “We’re proud to have played a part in bringing this facility to life and look forward to seeing the impact it will have on Danfoss employees, their families, and the community.”
Families interested in enrolling at Everbrook Academy are encouraged to begin the application process now. For more information, please visit the Everbrook Academy website.
The school will also be hosting an open house for the local community in the coming weeks.
About Danfoss
Danfoss engineers solutions that increase machine productivity, lower energy consumption, enable electrification, and reduce emissions. Danfoss Power Solutions is one of three business segments within Danfoss and manufactures high-quality hydraulic, electric, and fluid conveyance components. We specialize in providing state-of-the-art technology and solutions that excel in the harsh operating conditions of the mobile and on- and off-highway markets, as well as the demanding marine and industrial sectors. Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933. Danfoss is family-owned and employs over 39,000 people. We create long-term value for our customers in more than 100 countries with a global footprint of around 100 factories.
About Learning Care
Learning Care is a leading provider of early childhood education, serving families through more than 1,100 schools across the United States and supported by more than 23,000 employees. For nearly 60 years, the organization has led with heart — bringing together care, learning, and love in every classroom. Learning Care is dedicated to nurturing children’s growth and development through high-quality early education while providing essential childcare that empowers working families, strengthens businesses, and helps communities flourish. Learning Care’s brands include: AppleTree & Gilden Woods, Childtime Learning Centers, Creative Kids, Everbrook Academy, La Petite Academy, Montessori Unlimited, Pathways Learning Academy, The Children’s Courtyard, Tutor Time, U-GRO, and Young School. For more information, please visit learningcare.com.
About Henkel Construction
Founded in 1892 by William F. Henkel in Mason City, Iowa, Henkel Construction Company was built on the principles of craftsmanship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Drawing on his German heritage and strong tradition of skilled tradesmanship, William Henkel established a company where quality workmanship, attention to detail, and pride in every project were not optional, but expected. From the very beginning, he paired technical expertise with a deep respect for the communities he served, creating a foundation that continues to guide Henkel more than a century later. Today, Henkel remains committed to being the partner of choice by delivering exceptional construction experiences and creating lasting value for our clients, employees, and communities. By combining innovative construction practices with the craftsmanship, work ethic, and attention to detail that have defined our company for generations, we continue to build on the legacy established in 1892 while preparing for the needs of tomorrow.
CONTACT: Marielena Santana Learning Care 248-392-2039 [email protected]
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