Fairfield, Iowa, cuts ribbon on CANCO-led childcare center

1 year, 3 months ago

FAIRFIELD, Iowa — Nine months after foundations were poured, staff, donors and others gathered Jan. 9, 2023, to celebrate completion and the upcoming opening of Cambridge Little Achievers Center, a new childcare center with capacity to meet the needs of nearly 200 children from six weeks through age 12. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from board members, staff and representatives of key corporate donors, as well as Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend.

The $4.1 million, 14,000 SF facility was built on land adjacent to and donated by Jefferson County Health Center, and supported through a combination of state grant funds and local contributions from corporate, group and individual donors. Cambridge Little Achievers Center is scheduled for an initial opening on Jan. 16, 2023, and is expected to help meet the community's demand for quality childcare services.

Carl A. Nelson & Company was engaged as construction manager at-risk by Jefferson County Kids, Inc., and its community partners, including the Fairfield Economic Development Association, and played a pivotal role in bringing the project to completion through its pre-construction services. Initially let in 2021 as a design-bid-build project, organizers later turned to CANCO for assistance with getting the project design within budget and aligned with requirements of a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant from the State of Iowa. Following the March 2022 groundbreaking, office and field leadership from Carl A. Nelson & Company managed the project through the construction phase.

"At CANCO, we are extremely proud to have been part of this outstanding project," said Chris Smith, Carl A. Nelson & Company's vice president of operations for the Burlington, Iowa, office, and project executive for the Cambridge Little Achievers Center. "This facility is not only a tremendous asset to the Fairfield community, but also is a testament of how great things can happen when a community comes together to get things done. Congratulations to the Fairfield community for making it happen!"