Governor Mills Opened UMF Community Child Care Center Yesterday

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Governor Janet T. Mills (D), Addresses the Audience at the First Aannual Housing Conference at Oean Gateway Earlier This Week.  (Please visist post herein Dated March 26, 2024 for More Information on the First Annual Housing Summit in Portland)

Governor Janet T. Mills (D), the first woman Governor of the state of Maine, yesterday cut the ribbon to formally open the University of Maine, Farmington, (UMF) Sweatt-Winter Child Care and Early Education Center.  UMF President Joe McDonnell and early chlldhood education students currently attending the University were also in attendance.

The new 10,000 sq. foot, state of the art facility will expand child care access for area infants, toddlers and preschoolers and allow UMF to increase enrollment in the early childhood education programs by at least 20%, supporting the state’s goal of training more skilled child care staff to  enter and stay in the workforce.

“Parents across Maine need high-quality, reliable and affordable care and education for their children – not only so that they can go to work, but so that they have the peace of mind that their childen can learn and grow in a safe and nurturing place,” said Governor Millsl.  “I am proud dthat my Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan is expanding access to child care providing more early learning opportunities for more children in western Maine and training the next generation of skilled chld care workers at the same time.  We know more chlld care options are badly needed and we will continue to work hard to expand access to chlld care across Maine.”

At the First Annual lHousing Summit, on Tuesday, in Portland, Quincy Hentzel, President and CEO of the Portlland Regional Chamber of Commerce told the 200 or so in attendance that one of its barriers to retaining a workforce is the lack of affordable and high-quality child care facilities.  “It’s difficult to een talk about workforce development these days because we do not have the right enironment to welcome people into our region.”  (Please visit post herein dated March 26, 2024 on the First Annual Housing Summit.)