Northern Maine Community College, Avec Community Action and United Way of Aroostook Celebrate Official Opening of Campus Childcare Center

Community leaders, educators, families, and supporters gathered today to celebrate the official opening and ribbon cutting of the NMCC Childcare Center operated by Avec Community Action, located in the Timothy D. Crowley Building on the campus of Northern Maine Community College.

The new center represents the realization of a long-envisioned project to expand access to high-quality childcare while strengthening educational and workforce opportunities for Northern Maine families. The facility operates as a comprehensive Early Care and Education Center managed by Avec Community Action and also serves as the home of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center, a United Way of Aroostook initiative, while providing classroom and experiential learning space for NMCC’s Early Childhood Education Program.

Named for former NMCC President Timothy D. Crowley, whose vision and leadership helped launch the initiative, the center was made possible through a collaborative effort involving Northern Maine Community College, the NMCC Foundation, the State of Maine, philanthropic partners, Avec Community Action, United Way of Aroostook, and numerous community supporters.

“Today marks the realization of a vision that has been years in the making and reflects what is possible when a community comes together around a shared goal,” said Doug Binsfeld, Ed.D., President of Northern Maine Community College. “This facility helps address one of the greatest barriers facing students, working parents, and employers throughout our region. At the same time, it creates a dynamic learning environment for our Early Childhood Education students, who will gain invaluable hands-on experience while preparing to enter a profession that is critically important to Maine’s future.”

The center provides a mixed-delivery model that includes Head Start and Early Head Start services, private-pay and subsidized childcare options, and comprehensive family supports. Priority enrollment is available for NMCC students and employees, with additional capacity serving families throughout the community.

For Avec Community Action, the opening reflects the agency’s longstanding commitment to ensuring that children have access to high-quality early learning experiences while helping families achieve stability and success. It also represents the expansion of a successful model of campus-based early childhood services, building upon longstanding partnerships under the umbrella of Community Action with Washington County Community College in Calais and the University of Maine at Machias, where the agency provides high-quality Early Care and Education services that support student success, workforce participation, and family well-being.

“This center is much more than a childcare facility,” said Jason Parent, Chief Executive Officer of Avec Community Action. “It is an investment in children, families, education, and workforce development. Every available childcare slot helps a parent pursue an education, advance a career, or participate in the workforce. By bringing together high-quality early childhood services, family supports, and educational opportunities under one roof, this partnership is addressing immediate community needs while helping build a stronger future for Aroostook County.”

Megan Barnes, Chief Program Officer for Avec Community Action, noted that the center reflects best practices in early childhood education and family engagement.

“We are proud to deliver comprehensive Early Care and Education services in a setting specifically designed to support children’s growth, learning, and development,” said Barnes. “Through Head Start, Early Head Start, and childcare services, our team works every day to ensure that children enter school ready to succeed while supporting parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. This facility provides an exceptional environment where children can thrive and families can access the resources they need.”

In addition to serving young children and families, the facility strengthens the region’s broader childcare infrastructure through the co-location of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center.

Unable to attend the ceremony, Sarah Duncan, Executive Director of United Way of Aroostook, provided remarks that were delivered by Maeghan Swanson, Manager of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center.

“Access to quality childcare remains one of the most significant challenges facing families and employers across our region,” Duncan said in prepared remarks. “The presence of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center within this facility creates an important hub for families seeking childcare information and resources, for providers looking to strengthen and expand services, and for community partners working toward long-term solutions. United Way of Aroostook is proud to be part of a collaborative effort that is helping make childcare more accessible and sustainable for families throughout Aroostook County.”

The facility also serves as a laboratory school supporting NMCC’s Early Childhood Education Program, creating opportunities for students to complete required field experiences while learning within a high-quality early childhood setting.

Today’s ceremony concluded with an official ribbon cutting led by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, followed by tours of the facility and a community reception.