Grow With Us: An expansion and renovation project
Maine Mountain Children’s House, a non profit 501(c)(3) child care center located in Kingfield, Maine, is undergoing a large construction project to expand capacity!
Maine Mountain Children’s House (MMCH) is thrilled to announce we have broken ground - better yet, the kids have broken ground- on the Expansion and Renovation project! This major project adds over 1000 square feet of usable space and grows the enrollment capacity of children ages 18 months through 6 years by 50%. This is a big step for our little school, and none of it would be possible without the support from our wonderful community of parents, staff, students and neighbors.
Project History
In 2018, after receiving funds from the Sugarloaf Charitable Foundation, MMCH established a toddler program and quickly filled the five full time slots that licensing rules allowed in the current facility. Our waitlist has remained consistently robust for both the toddler and primary classrooms, and year after year we heard of increased interest in toddler programming from enrolled and prospective families alike.
In 2021, the Board of Directors established expanding toddler capacity as a focus of our strategic planning, which would require physical expansion and reconfiguration of the current facility. Soon after, we learned of a federal funding opportunity through the state to support expanding child care. With quick thinking and strong support from staff members, board members, and local architect, Ashley Hopwood Farrar, the board applied for and was granted $250,000 to increase toddler capacity nearly 3x. With 1/3 of the project budget funded, we kicked into high gear, working with Farrar to design a 1,000 square foot addition (including basement) to the south side of the building and investing $150,000 into renovations and updates to the current structure.
Designs & Plans
Project Goals
The Board of Directors, together with MMCH staff and teachers, see this expansion and renovation project as a critical step in growth for MMCH and the families we serve. The renovated space will increase energy efficiency, be ADA compliant, and provide ample space for children to move freely, fostering exploration and creativity. The new addition will enable MMCH to enroll more students to our toddler room, offering more financial freedom to our school so we can focus on staff wages and benefits as well as tuition support for families. Additionally, the finished basement will add dedicated meeting spaces for teachers, parents, and committees. The installed sprinkler system will allow the basement space to be occupied by children as well, providing the opportunity for continued program expansion in years to come. Throughout the entire design process, we’ve made sure to keep MMCH the sweet, intimate, home-like program we’ve always offered— all in a beautiful and efficient building that better matches on the outside what we offer on the inside.
Funding Update
The expansion and renovation project is well underway, with construction beginning Spring 2024 after hiring local contractor Peter Neal and Sons. The Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee has raised a total of $349,000 in donations and grants as of August 2024, with a total project budget and fundraising goal of $760,000. MMCH has secured a construction loan through Skowhegan Savings Bank which makes up the difference, and will keep the project moving forward as we continue to seek donations. Ultimately, our goal is to raise as much as possible via grants and donations in order to reduce our debt.
As the project moves forward, we have continued our commitment to programming for our children and families in our community. Major construction will wrap up in time for the 24/25 school year (visit our enrollment page for more info), with any remaining work continuing on weekends and during Summer 2025.
Make a Gift
Interested in supporting the Maine Mountain Children’s House Grow With Us campaign? Visit the donation page to see all the ways you can support the project!
