Fairfield breaks ground on child care center

Directors of The Jefferson County Kids Inc. and an array of donors and state officials put shovels in the ground Tuesday afternoon, ceremoniously starting construction on a new child care facility.

Fairfield Economic Development Association Executive Director Joshua Laraby said the day marked a moment of achievement.

“We’re really excited today about the community coming together,” he said. “Over 40 businesses, organizations and individuals contributed to this project and have raised $4.3 million as of today to bring this child care center to fruition.”

The building, now officially named the Cambridge Little Achievers Center, is expected to cost around $4.7 million, $4.3 million of which has already been pledged. The center is expected to open in early 2023.

Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham was a featured speaker at the event.

“When you invest in your community and your workforce, you’re really investing in the Iowa economy,” Durham said. “I have to tell you, what I’m really looking forward to is the day that we can all come back and celebrate at the ribbon cutting, when we have the energy of children all around us.”

Supporters of the project said they were proud to help move it along, including representatives from Cambridge Investment Research Inc., the top donor to the building at $1.25 million and winner of its naming rights.

“When we first thought of this project, when we first were approached, we saw it as an opportunity to be more than a day care center,” said Jeffrey Vivacqua, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Cambridge. “It’s a chance to impact the lives of these little people, these people that will grow up … and to all the little achievers that will begin their journey here, we wish them all the success in the world.”

Brent Kulp, president of Traffix Devices -the second biggest donor at $500,000 — said he felt much the same.

“We were very very happy to be a part of the project,” Kulp said. “Our hope is to attract more families to Fairfield, where companies like Traffix and others can provide a good, well-paying job but also a safe place for the kids to be dropped off while they’re at work.”

Child care has been highlighted as an economic priority in Fairfield and across the state, according to many speakers at the ceremony.

“Prior to the pandemic, Iowa had the most dual-earner families in the country, and we know as a result of the pandemic that child care has been a big prohibition to returning to that level,” said Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend. “We must provide that quality, accessible, affordable child care for working communities all over the state.”

Laraby said the center would go a long way in addressing that problem.

“Increasing access to child care, increasing quality and affordability are all things we plan to do at this center,” he said.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com