The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced Friday they had selected a Carroll-based youth mental health startup, Classroom Clinic, to receive a $100,000 Demonstration Fund loan to help expand their business model. The company was started in 2019 by Sue Gehling, a psychiatric nurse practitioner from Carroll, to increase access to student mental health resources, particularly in rural districts where that type of service can be challenging to find. The Classroom Clinic provides convenient and timely access to licensed professionals via telehealth and a team-based model, meaning providers and school staff are involved in the process from start to finish. Currently, the company serves a handful of school districts in Iowa but is poised to expand further. The IEDA Demonstration Loan will help Classroom Clinic fund market planning activities, broaden its client base, and add to its staff.
