Several enthusiastic infant, toddler and preschool enrollees and their adult teachers, along with local officials, helped to celebrate the new YMCA Logan County Early Learning Center during a ribbon cutting event Tuesday.
The childcare center serving children from infants through age 5 officially opened Nov. 1 at the Discovery Center, 1973 W. State Route 47, Bellefontaine, filling a need for additional childcare providers in the community.
“This is a big deal for our community, as a shortage of childcare options in our community continues to be a workforce obstacle,” Logan County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ben Vollrath said. “We are very excited to welcome them into our community as a 5-star childcare provider.”
Tracey Burton serves as the director of the center, and said it’s been a work of heart for the new staff members.
“We have the best staff here; these ladies just love all of our families and the kids,” said Burton, who previously worked for the Bellefontaine Parks and Recreation District for 23 years.
“We have some of our staff who retired from Honda and others who have just felt that calling that they were supposed to be working here. It’s been this shared joy of working with and caring for children that has brought us together.”
Currently, eight children are enrolled in the program. Additional childcare spots are available by calling (614) 389-2030, or completing an interest form at http://ymcacolumbus.org.
Burton said additional staff members will be added as the program grows and five classrooms are available for the program at the Discovery Center, where HeadStart classrooms previously were located in the building owned by the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Earlier this year, LCBDD Superintendent Saul Bauer informed area officials that this childcare space was available, and YMCA of Central Ohio was recommended as an experienced childcare provider that could potentially fill this need.
Currently, the YMCA operates more than 75 licensed child care programs across Central Ohio and has early learning centers in Franklin County.
Community partners and grant funding helped bring the Logan County program to fruition.
United Way of Logan County awarded a one-time $30,000 Community Impact Fund grant —the largest in its history — to the YMCA of Central Ohio to help fund the start up of the center, United Way Executive Director Dave Bezusko said.
The United Way has pledged additional funding for the program moving forward as well.
In addition, Logan County Commissioner Paul Benedetti said the commissioners worked with the Logan County Auditor’s Office so that the county could allocate $70,000 in American Rescue Act Funds to the program.
“We’ve got to get parents back to work, and the childcare piece is such a crucial part for many families,” he said.
The center serves all families, including low-income, with sliding scale rates made available through government and United Way assistance.
Representatives also were in attendance from the Don M. & Margaret Hilliker YMCA, 300 Sloan Blvd.., and YMCA Camp Willson, 2732 County Road 11, who related their excitement at joining the three branches of the Y together to offer many recreational and family-friendly activities in the county.
In addition, a grand opening celebration for the YMCA’s Logan County Early Learning Center is planned for 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, to invite area families to check out the facility.