Through the influence of the CFI collaborative, a municipal childcare center for 38 infants, toddlers and preschoolers is being built at Mahan School, one of 10 elementary schools in Norwich. Key city government stakeholders, Norwich Youth & Family Services, Norwich Public Schools Curriculum Director and Preschool Liaison, and the Norwich Department of Social Services successfully pursued the acquisition of bonding funds to build the facility.

The goal was to create professional childcare for infants, toddlers and preschool children in the Norwich region. Such a facility was needed in addition to home-based and before- and after-school childcare, particularly to ensure the safety and quality of care of the very young.

Norwich participated along with 14-16 other municipalities in the invitational process to apply for this funding. Total funds received were approximately $300,000. This facility will serve municipal and state workers, in addition to other community members, as space is available.

A building committee consisting of representatives from municipal government, Norwich Public Schools, and Norwich Public Utilities was formed to look at land availability. They also conducted an informal survey of municipal and local state employees to establish a need for such a facility, hired an architect, and put the project out to bid for construction.

TVCCA has been hired to staff the Center. The city retains ownership of the building and its furnishings, and will administer the program under the City Department of Social Services. The city also covers the cost of utilities and maintenance.

This childcare program should have no problem being sustained. Fees will be set at $150 per week for infants and toddlers and $135 per week for preschoolers.

There have been few obstacles to the establishment of this facility. The bid process was delayed somewhat when initial bids for its construction came in over budget. But once a contractor was chosen, the facility was built in under a year.

With a new childcare facility for the very young, working parents in the Norwich area now have an alternative to extended maternity leave or unemployment.