FERGUS – Young families could soon have the opportunity to attend a new permanent licensed childcare facility a little closer to home.
In a new report coming to the social services committee next week, the county's Children's Early Years Division and the Community Resources Centre (CRC) are requesting $160,000 be included in the 2024 budget and ten-year plan to help bring a permanent EarlyOn Child and Family Centre to the township.
With a prospective location identified at the Skyline Community Hub at 900 Tower Street in Fergus, which hosts other tenants like the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington, The Grove Hubs Fergus, and Compass Community Services, the proposed floor plan is 2,227 sq ft and would include a dedicated EarlyON program room, office, and storage room, as well as a common area and a meeting room that will be shared with other services that CRC delivers.
Currently, the total cost is estimated at $247,000, including a 10 per cent contingency, and is not anticipated to impact the overall tax levy.
The county's funding would cover renovation costs in addition to a capital contribution of $88,237 and the Skyline Group contributed the cost of the HVAC system, which is not included in the total.
However, the report said the CRC is committed to the project and will continue with the project even without county funding.
"While it would put a significant financial strain on our organization, we are hopeful that the community will come together to support our families and the services we provide," said CRC executive director Alyssandra Kent, in the report.
There are currently seven EarlyON Child and Family Centre sites across Wellington County, split between Erin, Guelph, Guelph/Eramosa, Mapleton, Minto, and Wellington North.
In Centre Wellington, satellite EarlyON programs and services are provided by the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington (CRC) at the Belwood Lion’s Hall, Fergus Sportsplex, and Elora Community Centre.
Previously, CRC leased space in the Melville United Church located at 300 St. Andrew St. W. in Fergus, but the board approved a recommendation to not renew the lease in 2023 due to accessibility issues.
The municipality currently has a population of 2,400 children from birth through age six and its overall population is projected to grow by 68 per cent by 2041.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
