October 23 Official Openings Mark Major Advancements in Early Care and Education in Aroostook County

Northern Maine Community College, Avec Community Action, United Way of Aroostook, the Town of Easton, and the Easton School Department to Host Same Day Ribbon Cuttings for New Childcare and Community School Initiatives

Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), Avec Community Action, United Way of Aroostook, the Town of Easton, and the Easton School Department will celebrate two significant milestones in expanding early care and education opportunities for families in Aroostook County on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The day will feature ribbon-cutting ceremonies coordinated by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce for the new NMCC Childcare Center in Presque Isle and the official opening of the Easton Community School Campus, Maine’s second Comprehensive Community School, both representing transformative investments in childcare, early education, workforce development, and family support services.

The first event will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Timothy D. Crowley Building on the NMCC campus in Presque Isle, celebrating the opening of the new NMCC Childcare Center operated by Avec Community Action. The center fulfills a vision championed by former NMCC President Timothy D. Crowley to create a campus-based childcare solution that supports student success, workforce participation, and the childcare needs of families throughout the region.

While the facility is known as the NMCC Childcare Center, Avec Community Action operates a comprehensive Early Care and Education Center within the building, offering a blend of Head Start, Early Head Start, private-pay, and subsidized childcare options. The facility is also home to the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center, a United Way of Aroostook initiative, and includes classroom and experiential learning space supporting local childcare stability.

Designed to address one of the region’s most pressing workforce challenges, the center provides high-quality childcare options for student parents, working families, and the broader community. Priority enrollment is available for NMCC students and staff, with additional capacity available to community families.

The second event will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Easton Elementary School and will celebrate the official opening of the Easton Community School Campus, Maine’s second Comprehensive Community School and a pioneering model for rural communities seeking to expand access to childcare, early education, and family support services.

Developed through a partnership among Avec Community Action, the Town of Easton, and the Easton School Department, the Easton initiative emerged from a community effort to address growing childcare and early education needs while creating a sustainable model that supports children and families from infancy through elementary school age. The Comprehensive Community School approach integrates education, childcare, family support services, and community resources in a single location, creating a seamless continuum of care and opportunity.

The Easton Community School Campus includes infant and toddler childcare services, Head Start and Early Head Start programming, preschool partnership, and after-school and school-break childcare opportunities. The model also connects families with family coaching, resource navigation, and supportive services designed to strengthen family well-being and economic mobility.

The concept was inspired by successful community school models that bring educational and family-support services together under one roof. Through the collaboration of municipal leaders, educators, and community service providers, Easton has become home to a groundbreaking rural model that strengthens educational outcomes while helping families access the services they need to thrive.

Together, these two projects represent a shared commitment to strengthening access to childcare, supporting family economic stability, enhancing educational outcomes, and addressing workforce challenges facing communities across northern Maine. They also reflect the growing collaboration among educational institutions, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic partners to create innovative solutions for families and employers alike.

The Presque Isle and Easton ceremonies will feature remarks from representatives of the participating organizations, community leaders, supporters, educators, and families benefiting from the services. The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce will lead ribbon-cutting ceremonies at both locations. Following each program, guests will be invited to tour the facilities, meet program staff and partners, and enjoy light refreshments.

Event Details

NMCC Childcare Center Ribbon Cutting

Friday, October 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
Timothy D. Crowley Building
Northern Maine Community College
33 Edgemont Drive
Presque Isle, Maine

Easton Community School Campus Ribbon Cutting

Friday, October 23, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Easton Elementary School
33 Bangor Road
Easton, Maine