NORWICH – More than two years after the increased costs of operation and declining enrollment forced Catholic Charities of Chenango County to close The Children’s Center in Norwich, the Family Enrichment Network of Chenango County is taking steps to return a full-day child care facility to the area.
According to the Family Enrichment Network, talks to provide a county-wide child care center have made significant progress since the idea was first brought to the table last summer. With support from area residents, businesses, and community leaders, the agency says it has identified an indisputable need for certified child care in Chenango County and is actively working to bring the idea to fruition.
The Family Enrichment Network says a child care center would serve a threefold purpose. First, it would provide up to 64 children with an educational and quality care component that has not been available since The Children’s Center closed in 2011. Second, access to affordable quality child care would eliminate one of the barriers that prevents parents from gaining and maintaining employment. Lastly, it would provide up to 14 new jobs – six teachers, six teaching assistants, a site director, and a maintenance person.
The Family Enrichment Network will host a meeting with local business representatives on Thursday at Commerce Chenango in Norwich to discuss the next step in establishing a child care center, and the options available to keep it funded. Family Enrichment Network Director of Program Development Cindy Martin said the purpose of Thursday’s meeting will be to provide an overview of progress to date, and what the agency needs as it continues to move forward with the project.
“We do have some letters of support from local employers for the project that have cited benefits they see to the community,” said Martin, adding that a center would be “an asset to working parents.”
In recent months, re-establishment of a child care center in the area has become a concern in terms of regional economic development, Martin said. In December, the Family Enrichment Network, with support of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, was awarded a $100,000 Empire State Development Grant for start-up of a child care center in Chenango County. The agency is also optimistic of additional funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission that was applied for by the Souther Tier East Regional Planning Development Board. Martin said hopes are to hear results of the application by April.
Steve Craig, Commerce Chenango President and Chenango County’s representative on the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, said while it may be a challenge to keep a child care center fully funded, the proposal has received a good deal of support. He said the question is, will it be enough to keep the facility operational?
“Our goal at this point is to feel people out and see if they would be interested in supporting a renewed offering of day care,” said Craig.
Craig cited the area’s lack of child care as a roadblock to employment for many working parents. “It’s an impediment for employers too,” he added. “They definitely see a need. It’s viewed as an economic development and pro business thing to do.”
Although start-up costs of a child care center have been all but secured, the biggest obstacle is keeping it operational in coming years. Incurred expenses, including staff, maintenance, licensing dues, and other day-to-day expenses is a key concern, according to Martin.
“Unfortunately, operating a child care center is not a profitable operation,” explained Martin. She said that while parent tuition fees and child care subsidies would help offset some costs, the amount of revenue would hardly be enough to cover all expenses. The Family Enrichment Network plans to solicit additional support from local employers, charitable foundations and other nonprofit organizations to keep a center open.
The Family Enrichment Network is currently exploring possible locations for a child care center within the City of Norwich. The agency has mapped out a timeline in which it hopes to secure all necessary start-up funding and other commitments for support by spring, purchase a building and start renovations over the summer, and hire staff in the fall. Should the plan go without a hitch, a center could open as early as January, 2015.
Said Martin, “We know having a center isn’t going to solve every parents child care problems, but we think it’s a step in the right direction.”