UMF purchases Front Street property for childcare expansion

FARMINGTON – With the recent purchase of 274 Front Street, the University of Maine at Farmington is looking at expanding its early childhood programming at the Sweatt-Winter Childcare Center later this year.

The move will be a welcome one for the dual childcare/workforce training facility, that has been operating out of the Ricker Addition building across the street from their new home. A former call center built 19 years ago, the 10,384 square foot building is not only significantly larger but comes with 3.18 acres of land and up to 100 parking spaces. Instructors at Sweatt-Winter also commented on the benefit of being close to Prescott Fields for field trips and programming.

UMF plans to offset the additional square footage by demolishing buildings at 110 and 112 Maguire Street and 228 Main Street. The Maguire Street buildings are currently vacant, while the Brinkman House at 228 Main Street is housing the Math Department. Once vacant, the Math Department will be moved into the Ricker Addition.

The construction of a new building or a major renovation for the early childhood learning center was identified as a goal by UMF back in 2017, at cost of an estimated $1.91 million.

The University of Maine Board of Trustees approved the purchase of the 274 Front Street property in January for $849,000 plus closing costs. The university is also setting aside $475,000 for renovations to the space and expects to spend $300,000 on the demolition of the Maguire and Main Street buildings. Maintenance and utility costs at the new facility are anticipated to cost roughly $35,000 annually and will be covered by central operating budget.

Childcare is taking a spotlight right now throughout Maine and the country as more and more families are reaching a crisis level of need for more affordable, quality care. According to a report by News Center Maine, families are spending on average $11,180 a year to put their infants in childcare- reportedly only $10 more than an in-state University of Maine student pays for a year’s worth of college courses.

“It’s very scary. There just are not enough slots for newborns, and the costs can be quite high,” Franklin County Children’s Task Force Director Renee Whitley said. “Even for a professional making more than livable wage, it’s an expensive endeavor.”

The FCCTF – a non-profit based in Farmington – works with hundreds of families to educate and connect caregivers with local resources. Childcare is one of the many topics that come up for new and veteran parents, who can spend upwards of $200 each week on childcare. Whitley said it’s not just infant care that is falling short right now, the need for quality options for kids goes all the way to elementary school.

“The problem is two-fold. After school care can be difficult, too. The options are limited and can be expensive so kids often end up going to their grandparents or home alone or walking somewhere,” she said.

21st Century Kids was born from the need for more consistent, quality after school care for elementary aged kids. The free program offers help with homework, opportunities for physical activity, and a safe environment to stay in until parents can pick them up.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have UMF right here because we would not have the staff to run these early childhood and after school care programs without them,” Whitley said.

Responsibility for Maine’s future generation can’t just fall on non-profits and childcare centers, Whitley said.

“This has to be a partnership,” she said.

Businesses, according to Whitley, suffer from childcare shortages as well. When fully trained, highly qualified employees can’t find affordable, quality childcare, they will often choose their child over their job. Whitley suggested that employers could offer incentives to parents, such as reserving spots at a local childcare facility or subsidizing that bill for families.

“This is not just a problem for low income people. It’s a problem for the parents with two car payments, or a mortgage. This is a problem for many, many people,” she said.