Senator Provides Funds to Design & Construct Wellston Developmental Child Care Center
United States Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond
December 15, 2009
http://bond.senate.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that he secured $3 million in federal funds for the final design work and construction of the Wellston Developmental Child Care Center in St. Louis.
"Local and community leaders in Missouri asked me to help send some of their tax dollars back home for local priorities," said Senator Kit Bond. "These funds will help meet low income families' child care needs and spur much-needed growth in the St. Louis area."
"I am very grateful for the tremendous support United States Senator Kit Bond has consistently provided toward our important economic development needs," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. "His support for the Midwest-China Hub Commission and St. Louis Community College's BioBench and Training Center will go a long way in spurring our economy and creating new jobs, and funding for the Wellston Developmental Child Care Center will help meet the growing need for affordable quality childcare education."
Bond secured the $3 million in funds for Wellston Child Care Center the in the 2010 omnibus spending bill, which passed the U.S. Senate on December 13th. The funds will go to the St. Louis County Economic Council, which will design and construct the center to help provide child care services for low- and moderate-income families. The center will help meet the growing need for affordable quality child-care education in the area.
The construction of the Wellston Child Care Center is a part of a comprehensive revitalization plan that will promote new industrial, commercial and residential growth in Wellston. The plan includes a new residential development of 100 new homes and commercial corridor that will span the length of the community, spurring new job and economic growth. With an expected increase of 600 jobs in the area, the new Wellston Center will provide quality child care for the expanding residential population and workforce.
A 19,556 square-foot and LEED-certified building, the Wellston Child Care Center will serve up to 164 children .The center will be managed by the award-wining University City Children's Center and include ten classrooms, an infant/toddler room, flexible-use classroom, nursing and wellness room, kitchen, gross motor skills room, administrative offices, and adult classroom space for partnerships with the Metropolitan and Education Training (MET) Center or other child care education programs. The center will be located in Wellston, adjacent to the Wellston Metrolink station and in close proximity to the St. Louis Enterprise Center, Wellston Industrial Park, Plymouth Industrial Park, MET Center, county police and fire academy.
