The long-awaited Glenwood Springs child care center, Little Adventures, hosted its groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday at the Glenwood Springs Mall. 

Approved for funding by the Glenwood Springs City Council in December, the center marks a partnership between the Access Early Education Foundation, Mountain Family Health Centers, Glenwood Springs Mall and the City of Glenwood Springs. 

Access Early Education Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission to build new child care centers to meet the growing need of child care in the country. 

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“America is facing a child care crisis, and that crisis has significantly impacted Garfield County,” Access Early Education Foundation Director Jennifer Knott said. “Through data, we know that there is an extreme shortage of available child care in our county. There is an even greater need for safe and reliable infant and toddler care.” 

The center, called Little Adventures Child Care Center, will offer six classrooms with up to 59 spots for infants and toddlers ages 0-3, and is expected to create over 17 net new jobs. The 5,450 square-foot space will include its own entrance and two playgrounds.  

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Originally, the center was designed to hold four classrooms with 10 spots, but additional funding made it possible to turn what would have been a storage room into an additional classroom, according to Jeff Peterson, structural engineer and representative for the mall. 

In addition, Knotts said there will still be opportunities to expand in the future up to 9,000 square feet, with additional funding and grants. 

“I’ve worked in HR for a long time, and child care has always been one of the chief complaints of every place I’ve ever worked,” Mountain Family Health Centers Director of Human Resources Dana Peterson said. 

Mountain Family Development and Communications Manager Lizz Bailey credited Dana Peterson for being one of the driving forces in dreaming up the project and putting the plan to action. 

“It’s going to allow moms to stay in the workforce. It’s going to let people know that they have a safe place to send their children,” Bailey said. 

Bailey praised the benefits of having good child care centers in the valley, using the example of her 7-month-old son who is enrolled at a center in Rifle. 

“I get to hear about how he is thriving and how he is already, at 7 months, starting to talk and he’s wanting to crawl because he’s with the older babies,” she said. “I, like many people in the valley, can’t afford to be a stay-at-home mom. And so when we were able to get in, it felt like a miracle it happened because it keeps me at my job that I care deeply for (and) it keeps me involved and invested in our community.” 

Dana Peterson said that there are currently only three licensed infant care centers in Glenwood Springs. 

“Three license spots for a community this size makes no sense,” she said. 

Dana Peterson is especially excited that the center will be a support to Mountain Family employees, 87% of which are women. 

“We serve people with health, medical, behavioral, and dental care that they probably couldn’t get otherwise,” she said. “By us keeping our doors open, we’re better able to serve the entire community from a healthcare perspective, by taking care of our employees. You take care of your own to take care of the others.” 

The project’s overall cost is estimated at $1.2 million, with $800,000 collected so far from state grant funding and $150,000 from Glenwood Springs City Council, who also waived up to $40,000 in permit fees and the remaining funds. The last $200,000 are being provided by the Glenwood Springs Mall.

Jeff Peterson emphasized the significance of the city’s contribution toward the project, saying it was instrumental in helping them reach their funding goal. 

“The mall has been really generous as well,” Bailey added. “I think that should not go unnoticed that the mall has been a really great partner.” 

The groundbreaking saw around 25 community members, program partners and children come together to celebrate the vacant building which would soon be brimming with children, toys and educational resources. 

“We are not just renovating a building; we are constructing the foundation for the future of child care in our community,” Knott said. “Today represents our commitment to our children who are the future leaders of this community and who will one day influence and lead this great town. Let’s give them the tools that they need to be successful.”

Little Adventures Child Care Center is anticipated to open in the fall and will be located at 51027 Hwy 6, behind the former JCPenney space.