Chamber Chatter Gunner's Place

We share how a roadside assist leads into a bigger story: building a specialized childcare center for medically fragile kids and their siblings, and the community effort making it real. Sheila explains the gaps, the licensing maze, and the fundraiser pushing the project across the line.

• the regional childcare shortfall and why complex medical needs are excluded
• how Gunner’s Place pairs RN and LPN staffing with trained childcare
• facility secured and full remodel plan to meet standards
• Nebraska licensing steps and unclear ratios for this model
• Big Idea win as validation and community visibility
• fundraiser details, auction highlights, and where funds go
• accepting waivers and offering respite care with notice
• siblings welcomed for one-drop convenience and family stability
• early-to-late weekday hours with room to expand
• where to follow updates: billboard, Facebook, gunnersplace.org, chamber site
• Rising Stars as a local leadership and culture builder

February 28 at Eunice Conference Center South — Dining with Gunner’s Place. Visit gunnersplace.org or find us on Facebook for details

Transcript

Cold Morning And Highway Rescue

SPEAKER_03 0:11

Derek, it was sure cold this morning.

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Yeah, that was your day.

SPEAKER_03 0:14

You know, I'm always here for some good comic relief. But you know, kids out there, if you're it's eight degrees or below, make sure you don't go below a quarter of a tank in your gas tank, especially when you travel the interstate.

SPEAKER_02 0:29

So I get a I get a phone call. I'm on legislative call this morning. So, you know, thrilling call to be on, but I couldn't step away. And so I texted him, hey, sorry, I'm gonna call, what's up? And I get the text, I'm stranded. Do you need me to come? Well, you know, maybe, and then luckily I think this was karma because we do law enforcement appreciation. Yes, we love our law enforcement, and a state trooper shows up to help Riley out. Save the day. Saves the day.

SPEAKER_03 1:05

And the funny thing is, is so I'm not a stranger. I do drive a lot. Anybody that knows me, I'm bouncing between Ravanna, Kearney, and Grand Island quite often. And with the weather and winter, I put a five-gallon canister of gas in my truck. And last week it had tipped over and had started to leak. And I was like, oh shoot. Well, now my truck smells like gas. And so I just put the gas in my truck last week and emptied the can. So had I not done that, I would have been fine. I wouldn't had to tell anybody. But so I had the can, and awesome state trooper was like, Well, you got a canister, and I said, Yeah, and he said, Hop in. So he I was just right before just east of the archway, and he ran me into Kearney and was gracious to take me back and then run interference so I didn't get smoked by a semi.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

So I know what that's that's why that's why they're the best. Troopers, shout out to Brian Waugh, yes, he's former chief of police in Kearney, Nebraska, and now he's running the show at the Nebraska State Patrol. So you've got a good crew there.

SPEAKER_03 2:19

Yes, and I I did not catch the trooper's name, but you if you happen to hear it, much appreciation. Love you guys.

Shoutout To Law Enforcement

SPEAKER_02 2:26

We're driven by a common goal. Knowing your success is our success. That's the power of the herd. Learn more at unk.edu. We've got some maybe not quite that kind of excitement, but we have the winner of Big Idea, Basebig County, right?

SPEAKER_03 2:47

That's right.

Introducing Gunner’s Place

SPEAKER_02 2:47

And so welcome, Gunner's Place. And why don't Sheila, why don't you tell us a little bit about your business, introduce you, and we want to learn more.

The Childcare Gap For Medically Fragile Kids

SPEAKER_01 2:58

All right. I'm Sheila Harrif. I came up with the idea almost two years ago, working for Belasco's, taking care of their little boy. I helped bring him home from the hospital. And one day when we went up to Omaha, I overheard some ladies in the waiting room discussing how they didn't know how they were gonna go back to work, support their families, because they did not have anybody to take care of their child. Well, that was a whole new concept for me because I was you know, I know that kids can't come home, children won't let them come home unless the parents either have 24 hour nursing care or one of the parents is gonna stay there all day with them and then they have somebody come in at night because these kids can be pretty critical, especially right you know, coming right home from the hospital. So that's where I got the idea that we needed to provide a place for these children where they can go so mom and dad can go to work.

From Idea To Big Idea Win

SPEAKER_02 3:59

Nobody has to give up a career or yeah, just yeah, at the end of the day, you've got already something where you have an industry, childcare specifically, that we've found out at the Carnier Chamber of Commerce. The more we've d we're digging in this, it's actually one of our strategic plan and initiatives that childcare is a robust monster to begin with, for lack of better words. And we already have different a lot of studies that I read have called it inadequate childcare. And within the inadequate childcare, you found a niche, especially within the inadequate, inadequate childcare for sure. Walk me through a little bit about your I guess time to say, okay, I've started this business, you know, I know you've been in the chamber before, you're a chamber member, and you know, I know you've been looking for locations for a center. But let's start and go back to kind of like big idea. And where did why why did you feel like that was kind of like, hey, that's something that maybe we should take this idea that we have and see if others it resonates with others.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

I have a friend who has a grandson and he had a G he has a G tube. They had a hard time finding a daycare that would take it because that's you know, his the only way he could eat. And that was just another that's just something more that's missing from these daycare centers is they're not equipped to handle these. So not only are we uh, you know, lacking enough daycare centers to take care of the kids, but we don't have a daycare center to take care of these specific children.

SPEAKER_02 5:51

Nothing that's really specialized, right? Right. So let's wave the magic wand and say what would be ideal for you to start. So not the end game necessarily, but what's kind of the start? What would you you know wish for right now that you could, you know, is it a center? Is it how many kids? What are we looking at?

SPEAKER_00 6:12

Right now we have a building. We've got uh the A Rom family.

Securing A Facility And Remodel Plans

SPEAKER_01 6:18

Okay, they own where the old an old daycare center was, and it became available. So we were contacted and asked if we wanted to take that uh that facility over. So we went and walked through, and it's gonna work. We do have to completely remodel. It needs all new carpet, all new paint, a brand new kitchen. We have to purchase a commercial dishwasher, um, new cabinets, things like that.

SPEAKER_02 6:44

So kind of a full gut.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Yes, okay completely. We're even moving a wall.

SPEAKER_02 6:49

So if you need some chamber members to help you, we've got some good resources and that we could let you know. Maybe maybe you've got a skill set, I don't know, or know somebody, but that's kind of always exciting though, at the end of the day, to kind of give it a new fresh look and then make it your own. Hopefully the bones are good, right? And then you guys can that's that's always fun and exciting.

SPEAKER_01 7:06

Yeah, anybody that's got a paintbrush can come out. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 7:10

Yeah, so and if you're listening to this, you know, reach out to the chamber or we'll at the end we'll give uh gunners information and how you can contact him. But if this is sounding like something that you want to be learn more about or get involved or help, you know, don't hesitate to reach out.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Yeah. So remodel happens. What's next?

Licensing Hurdles And Staffing Needs

SPEAKER_01 7:29

Once the remodel is complete, then uh sanitation comes in, makes sure that it's up to their standard. Then the state of Nebraska comes in and looks at it and says, yes, that'll that meets the requirements for a daycare center. Then before I can have the license of a pediatric day health center, I have to be licensed as a regular daycare. And then progress with at least 20 kids that have medical needs have to be on my roster before I can apply for that specific license. So that's one of the one of the concerns that I have personally is because 20 medical kids at one time, especially when we're just starting out, it's kind of concerning because there isn't anything written in our legislature in Nebraska on these types of facilities. You know, the ratio, what I need to um, how many childcare providers I need for so many kids. I will have to have an RN on staff all the time. I will have an LPN to do medication, and then we'll have our childcare individuals who will be specially trained on what to look for and how to, you know, just be with these children and interact in a more appropriate way. I mean, they're we're not gonna just be able to let them run like a normal daycare, which yeah, would be nice.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

Yeah. Wow. Well, Sheila, I just thank you for being part of this and thank you for providing a a need. That's what I love about entrepreneurs all the time, right? They're identifying, they've they've got a story behind it, they take a risk, all of these things. It's just it's awesome. And I think at the core of it, and this is a way with a lot of entrepreneurs, it's it's your heart. And so I think what what an awesome heart that you have for this, and it's awesome. So kudos to you. Great job of going through big idea. Was big idea was that was that a little new for you guys, uh, a little or have you pitched your idea many times? What was that like?

SPEAKER_01 9:44

I didn't get to be involved, I was having surgery, so Anna went and pitched it for me.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

I I put everything together and well, she must have done a rock star job since she did, she did.

Timeline, Funding, And Community Help

SPEAKER_01 9:56

I got to watch it just a few minutes after they recorded it for me. But she's amazing. She's uh she's kind of been my right hand through it all, but she's Gunner's mom. And he's my inspiration on you know, making this work for children like him. So that was just it was more of an eye-opener that okay, maybe this really is a good idea. You know, it's not just something I thought, hey, let me try this, but you know, it it validated it and other people, and uh that's really cool.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

When when Gunnar came into the chamber, guess what kind of shoes he had on? What kind of shoes did he have on? Jordan's. Oh, you know, Derek's a big shoe guy, yeah, Michael Jordan fan. That's awesome. So I I loved it. He was rocking his J's and so that's awesome. Yeah, so Sheila, so with this new facility, what would be kind of a timeline? Do you think that I mean, because what I heard is a lot of work, right? And and you've got a lot in front of you to get to that day where you know we can have that grand opening ribbon cutting, we can start taking kids in there. What is kind of that timeline?

Fundraiser Details And Auction Highlights

SPEAKER_01 11:03

Honestly, it's gonna depend on funds.

SPEAKER_02 11:06

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 11:06

That's why we're having our big fundraiser coming up.

SPEAKER_03 11:09

Oh, let's let's hear about it. When's that?

SPEAKER_01 11:11

February 28th at Eunice Conference Center South. We'll have this will actually be our second one. So our second annual Dining with Gunners Place. We'll have um silent auction. We've actually been kind of making our way around to some of the businesses in the area and talking to them and seeing if they wanted to donate a basket, or we were gonna put together like little favorite business, local businesses basket for the silent auction. And then we also have live auction that'll go on, and we've had quite a few amazing people come forward and donate. We have a vacation that we're gonna auction off. We have a quarter of Angus, Wagyu. Wow. We have pork, we'll have a flare arm. Somebody is donating some agriculture. Uh I don't remember what it's called. I don't know anything about it.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

Vacation, beef, and guns.

SPEAKER_03 12:06

Yeah, I mean, you had me.

SPEAKER_02 12:08

I was like, let's go. Yeah. Sounds like something I should be at, right?

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Yeah. And if you don't want to do that, come and check out all the really amazing things that our local businesses are donating and come do some silent auction shopping.

SPEAKER_02 12:21

For the 28th of February, obviously you can get a nice dinner at Eunice. They're amazing. They are amazing. And yeah, and help out Gunner's place, fundraise for this amazing facility and uh and uh obviously an identified need that's been validated in in our community and and really probably the area, right? I mean, I could see, you know, even maybe you know, 10, 15 miles even out that, you know, a lot of people that commute. We we we know that a lot of people come work in Carney, so that might provide them an opportunity that we're hesitant about maybe employment and and that travel. So to accommodate that, that's that's awesome. That helps our workforce. We love that as a chamber of commerce too.

Siblings, Waivers, And Flexible Hours

SPEAKER_01 13:02

So the other thing that it's gonna allow is we'll also take the waivers. So some families get waivers for just a day of respite so they can not have to worry so much. So we'll be able to take those, you know, drop-in kids with, of course, a notice. But you know, if they just need to go shopping, they don't have to haul a child and a ventilator and oxygen and all the bags and all the things that these children have to have with them. So we'll also be a place where parents can come, know that their child is safe and run into Walmart without having two carts, you know. So it's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_02 13:38

Yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

One other thing that I want to mention is one I think important aspect for us is when these children have other siblings, nobody wants to take their kids to two separate daycares. So we're going to take those children with the complex medical needs. We're also gonna take their siblings.

SPEAKER_02 13:59

Okay. Wow, that's that's huge. I can imagine, you know, having the two drop-offs. My wife does three right now with her kids for you know, schooling, right? So we're at Horizon Park and Zion and yeah, bless her heart. So yeah, what what a huge thing. Because I have heard that too in our child care discussions. That yeah, sometimes that can be a deterrent. And what what kind of hours will you guys offer? What's the what's the plan?

SPEAKER_01 14:26

In the beginning, we're gonna do the 12 hours, six. Well, probably 5 30 to 6 30. So a little bit more than 12 because you don't know. I I'm not sure what the need is gonna be for us, but I want to make sure that we're open a good amount of time. And you know, if we were to do nights, that would be a whole nother issue. But right now we're gonna imagine Monday through Friday, and then as we see the need, we can go through the weekends.

Where To Learn More About Gunner’s Place

SPEAKER_02 14:52

Wow. Well, this is super Sheila. Congrats for Gunner's Place for winning big idea. Thank you. And thanks for joining us today. Best of luck moving forward. Lots of work, but I know that you guys will continue to tackle it because I think the first time we met, it was pretty evident that you had that entrepreneurial spirit and you were gonna get this done. And then again, just so our listeners, February 28th, Eunice Conference Center South. There's a dinner. Where could they find maybe more information about Gunner's Place?

SPEAKER_01 15:22

We've got Billboard that's up now, north of Kearney by uh Menards. We've got our website, Facebook. Facebook has all of our information on it, but uh our website's gunnersplace.org. Very easy. It'll come right up. Some of the businesses have little signs up for us. We're we're we're kind of we're getting out there. We did a couple of interviews with NTV, the good life.

SPEAKER_02 15:49

Oh, great. Um, we have an article.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

They're great. They put a little article in the in the hub about us. Okay, great. So everybody's got QR code, the our address or phone numbers, email, all that's everywhere. But um, yeah. And if you can't find us, look at the chamber site.

SPEAKER_03 16:09

Hey, I like that.

Rising Stars And Leadership Development

SPEAKER_02 16:11

Last but not least. No, well, that's awesome. Hey, thanks for being here again today. Thanks for joining us for chamber chatter and listening in.

SPEAKER_03 16:20

Uh, one thing I do want to, in closing here, just to mention, because as we approach February, what's starting in February is rising stars. And I just wanted to touch on that a little bit because uh Sheila, you mentioned you're gonna be participating in rising stars.

SPEAKER_02 16:35

You're in class two, rising stars. It's gonna be a great year. Yeah, I think we've got like 15 or so individuals in in class two. Uh, we had two classes for class one, and I think they all had a great experience. We we finished that up actually next week uh for class one's the final class.

SPEAKER_03 16:53

And then for people listening, what like what is rising stars? Can you tell us?

Closing And Next Steps

SPEAKER_02 16:57

You know what? I I would say it's an employee engagement kind of really leadership development program. I think it's really to say, hey, here's how I can make my workplace better, but you could make any relationship better after doing this. I mean, I used a lot of examples when I facilitated last year, just on, you know, here's how I can be be a better spouse, here's how I can be a better father as well. And so, not just a better teammate within the chamber, but I could use a lot of examples. And so I think at the end of the day, it's it's obviously a leadership development, but I think you can really be a better teammate in the workplace, and that's why the Chamber of Commerce is passionate about that, is developing that workplace culture.

SPEAKER_03 17:42

Awesome. So if you're out there listening and you want to learn more, this year is already going to be underway. But if you're you maybe interested, or you can hit us up and annual program. Yep, for sure. Yep. So, but uh, thanks for listening and make a move. All right, see you next time.