Aiming for affordable childcare

We hope it will be used by people of all ages - kids, families and community members.”

Jenny Collins

Audio

Aiming for affordable childcare_Jane McClure.mp3

The need for quality affordable childcare has been expressed loudly and clearly in the Midway community of St. Paul, and the YMCA has responded by building the new Peter J. King Family Foundation Center for Child and Family Wellbeing at 530 Wheeler St.

The new building is right across the street from the Midway YMCA, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in its building at 1761 University Ave.

“The Y has had a presence for over 100 years, and it’s fun and exciting to see its evolution,” said Jenny Collins, vice president of educational impact.

She said the Y has been providing childcare services, but not at the level that is possible with the new center.

“We rented space in the Griggs Building, where the walls did not go all the way up to the ceiling. You can imagine the acoustics there,” she said.

Collins said the Y’s board of directors had always been asking what more is needed, and childhood services was at the top of the list.

“Planning for this center began about 10 years ago,” she said. Once the organization began fundraising, Collins said the Y received support from the Peter J. King Family Foundation, as well as other donations and grants. “We could not have done this without the support of the community.”

The $16.5 million project took about two years from the start of the design to the building’s recent completion.

The center is focused on serving children from the age of six weeks to the fifth grade, and it offers daycare as well as after-school programs.

“We have three infant classrooms, three for toddlers, two preschool, two Headstart and four school age,” Collins said. “We anticipate using the space with our youth development programs as well. We hope it will be used by people of all ages – kids, families and community members.” Collins said the space can be used at different hours for different programs.

The center is 29,000 square feet in size and was designed by CNH Architects, LTD. The contractor was Jason Dunn.

The center also contains a gymnasium and an open rooftop classroom.

Collins noted that besides working with the community, the Y works in partnership with several higher education programs, offering internships and job opportunities for young people.

“We are excited that the new center strengthens not only our commitment to the Midway, but also strengthens the workforce around childcare,” Collins said.

“The Y is one of the largest employers of young people,” she continued. “They can have their first job here or get exposed to various careers.”

She went on to say that the Y partners with higher ed and the state of Minnesota to leverage opportunities for scholarships and help cover the cost for folks to pursue a path towards a career in early childhood education.

The center also features a mural inside the building by local artist Audrey Carver.

Collins said there will be space for clinics, food distribution and early childhood screenings. Community support and resource information will be available.

She said transportation will be provided for children to get bus rides to and from schools to the center. ”Piecing together transportation can be so difficult,” she added.

The new center also has additional parking spots.

“We are so grateful for the families who made the move with us from the old building to the new center,” Collins said, “and for the new families and the educators who work with us. And we are grateful to our partners in the community who made this possible.”

Collins said the building was done ahead of schedule and under budget.

“There are still quite a few openings for kids’ programs in the new center, and the best thing is for parents to contact our website at https://www.ymcanorth.org/midway/center-for-child-and-family-wellbeing.

“We can take them on a tour and get their child registered,” Collins said.

“We like the whole family approach and want to provide support as we learn more about what families need. We are continuing to grow with care.

“David Dominick, our executive director, has been really committed to building this campus and being here for the community and the good of Saint Paul. We are very excited to bring this center to life.”