A unique collaboration between the United Way of Aroostook, Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center and Aroostook County Action Program has been selected by Northern Maine Community College to operate a new childcare center on the college’s campus.
The center will be located in the Crowley Building, named for former longtime NMCC President Timothy D. Crowley, whose vision and leadership, along with generous support from donors Mary Barton Akeley Smith, Peter and Bette Briggs, State of Maine and the Northern Maine Community College Foundation has made the project possible.
The proposal was selected following a competitive review process. The center will offer a mixed delivery model that includes Head Start and Early Head Start services, private pay and subsidized childcare options, and wraparound family supports. Enrollment will prioritize NMCC students and staff, with additional availability for community families.
ACAP will lead the operation of the center, drawing on decades of experience in early childhood education. The program will use the HighScope curriculum and provide a secure, developmentally appropriate environment. The center will also serve as a training site for NMCC’s Early Childhood Education students and local Career and Technical Education programs.
“We’re proud to partner with this unique collaboration of local Aroostook County organizations to bring high-quality childcare to the Northern Maine Community College campus,” said Doug Binsfeld, NMCC president. “This center not only meets a pressing need for families in our region, but also provides a hands-on learning environment that will help prepare our early childhood education students to lead in the field.”
“This project is a direct response to the childcare needs we see every day in our community,” said Megan Barnes, chief program officer at ACAP. “We’re committed to providing a safe, enriching environment for children while supporting families and strengthening the local workforce.”
United Way of Aroostook, a key partner in the initiative, emphasized the broader community impact. “Access to quality childcare is essential for working families,” said Sarah Duncan, executive director of United Way of Aroostook. “This partnership helps remove a major barrier to employment and education, and we’re proud to be part of a solution that supports both children and parents.”
Melanie Tompkins, director of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center, established by UWA, highlighted the center’s role in workforce development. “This facility will not only provide much-needed childcare but also serve as a training ground for future early childhood educators,” she said. “By investing in both care and education, we’re helping to build a stronger, more sustainable childcare system for Aroostook County.”
The center is expected to open in the coming months and will offer flexible hours to accommodate student and workforce schedules, including potential evening care. Meals will be provided through the Child and Adult Care Food Program , and the facility will include a secure outdoor play area.
