Lori Trahan, local leaders celebrate Community Project Funding for affordable childcare in Fitchburg

By: Shane Rhodes

FITCHBURG — In partnership with federal, state and local leadership, Making Opportunity Count is set to construct a new early childhood education and care facility.

Joined by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and other local leaders, MOC and the city celebrated a $750,000 Community Project Funding grant on Tuesday, which will be used in part to fund the construction of a $4.5 million child care center. The “modern-day” and “state-of-the-art” facility looks to improve access to safe, affordable and high-quality early education and child care for Fitchburg’s working-class families.

MOC Vice President of Community Impact Leona Whetzel said the project had “opportunity written all over it,” while Vice President of Family and Children Services Nancy Mahoney said it would be nice for the city to have a facility that can “adequately support” its children and their education. Both thanked Trahan and others present extensively.

“This project is an opportunity for our teachers, an opportunity for our parents to re-enter the workforce or continue their education and, most importantly an opportunity for the children we serve,” Whetzel said. “These students are our future and deserve the best we can give them.”

“The first three or so years of life are so important for our children as far as education is concerned, and we do our best to emphasize those years and provided children with a warm, nurturing environment that is conducive to their early education,” Mahoney said. “But our program is also important to our parents, as it can provide them the opportunity to earn their GED, go back to college or do whatever is necessary to provide a better life for their family.”

“We see so many parents grow within this program, just as much if not more than their children, and these funds, this new facility will provide us with the environment to best foster all of that change,” she said.

Trahan praised MOC and referred to the organization as a “pillar of the community.” She also said securing CPF funds for the facility was a “priority” and, given the “prohibitive” cost of childcare, stressed the importance of the new facility to the future of Fitchburg.

“This facility will provide every child who enters its doors with the care, resources and support necessary to succeed,” Trahan said. “It will also benefit parents across Fitchburg as they look to return to work or school and build toward a brighter future — and, in turn, boost Fitchburg’s economy for years and decades to come.”

“(Childcare) has become so cost prohibitive for too many families, so this $750,000 is a step in the right direction for those here in Fitchburg,” she said.

Trahan later thanked MOC, as well as local leaders such as Mayor Stephen DiNatale, state Sen. John Cronin, state Rep. Michael Kushmerek and others, for their cooperation and dedication to the city of Fitchburg and its residents.

“This kind of thing doesn’t happen without all of your dedication to the city and its residents, so thank you,” she said.

Cronin called the grant a “win for everybody in the community” and, like Trahan, celebrated the “team” that not only made it possible but has done everything it can to “deliver to our residents.”

“You can’t put too fine a point on it, we have a team here in Fitchburg that has endlessly collaborated and worked together to deliver to our residents,” Cronin said. “So I want to thank them as well as those at Making Opportunity Count, the people on the ground every day doing this important work.”

“I’m just so grateful for this team of teams here. So, again, thank you,” he said.

DiNatale said the “significant” grant would “benefit the entire community” and said Trahan “delivered for the people of Fitchburg” once again. Kushmerek said he was thankful to be involved in a project that addressed an important issue such as childcare.

“Childcare is something near and dear to me and an expense that I’ve experienced firsthand,” Kushmerek said. “While it can be hard for many middle-class families, it is nearly impossible for our working-class families and many of those here in the Fitchburg to afford — and that’s why today’s funding is so important.”

Kushmerek also thanked MOC for their continued effort to aid the Fitchburg community and, with a look to the future, said he was “excited for what’s next.”

“Whenever a need has been identified in our community, MOC has stood up and met that need, addressed it to the best of their ability,” Kushmerek said. “We are so thankful for their partnership and everything they do here in the city of Fitchburg.”

Similarly, Whetzel, with the new facility in mind, said MOC was excited to see the organization’s “roots” continue to spread in partnership with the Fitchburg community.

“Childcare isn’t just MOC’s future, it’s our roots,” Whetzel said. “Head Start was the first of our programs and it has grown over the years to become one of MOC’s core services — and that’s what has made today so special, to see our roots continue to grow with and better this community.”