NORTHBRIDGE, Mass.— The Worcester Business Journal reported that the Whitin Community Center has broken ground on a project to convert a historic school building into a new child care center, part of a broader $10-million capital campaign.
According to WBJ, a groundbreaking ceremony was held Feb. 19 to mark the start of construction. Children from the nonprofit’s Blackstone Valley Children’s Place joined community members and leaders in the event, celebrating the expansion of services aimed at addressing high demand for child care in the region.
As reported by WBJ, the new center is intended to expand WCC’s existing child care offerings, as the organization currently serves 237 children across four sites and maintains a growing waitlist.
“By renovating this historic building, we are not only preserving a vital piece of our town’s heritage – we are opening doors to families and supporting local business,” Heather Elster, executive director of the Whitin Community Center, said in a press release Wednesday, according to WBJ. “Expanding access to child care in this space reflects our deep commitment to building a stronger community in the Blackstone Valley.”
WBJ reported that the nonprofit purchased the property for $50,000 in June after being selected through a request-for-proposals process conducted by the Town of Northbridge. The renovation project is part of WCC’s $10-million capital campaign launched in celebration of its centennial.
According to WBJ, the expanded facility is expected to increase access to early education services for families in the Northbridge area and surrounding Blackstone Valley communities, while also preserving a historic local building.
