‘A long time coming’: New CCS location coming to Palmer

PALMER— The CCS Early Learning Center is preparing for its official debut in the heart of Palmer after years of waiting. Construction is currently underway on its property off Bogard Road near Palmer High School, and CCS aims to open the doors by the spring of 2020.

“We are so excited,” CCS Early Learning Executive Director Mark Lackey said.

CCS’s greater Palmer area education has gone through six locations since 1991, according to Lackey. He said they finally purchased a lot for the transient location in 2013, but weren’t able to utilize it until realistic funding was available. Thanks to two federal grants, they were able to start construction.

“It has been a long time coming,” Lackey said.

Up until now, Wasilla was the only local CCS with its own permanent physical location. Lackey noted the Palmer building is being built to fulfill its purpose. Seeing the construction workers creating a building from the ground up made him smile.

“These guys are moving fast,” Lackey said.

Lackey was happy to report the fact that the CCS location will be breaking new ground in the Palmer area, offering a new service to the community, Early Head Start education.

CCS Early Learning utilizes two federally based learning programs, Head Start (ages 3-5) and Early Head Start (age 3 and younger). Their services are free to eligible families. Qualifications include low income and homeless families, children in foster care, and children with disabilities.

The Palmer CCS will serve 40 Head Start students and 32 Early Head Start students over the school year, totaling to 72 young children. Lackey said the new location will be a “one stop shop” for young families with a Head Start student who has a younger sibling on the way.

When construction is complete, there will be three Head Start classrooms and four Early Head Start classrooms. Plus, there will be a designated space for indoor play during bad weather.

CCS is currently serving Palmer area students, with Head Start at Valley Pathways and Early Head Start at Church on the Rock. Lackey said the older students will finish the school year at Pathways while the younger students will transition into the new building.

Lackey encouraged Palmer parents to enroll their children now, especially if they’re under three years old (for the Early Head Start program).

He also implored Palmer job seekers with experience with childcare to apply to the new location since there are about 20 positions to fill.

He said the coming Palmer location will be an economic boost to the community, offering quality childcare and job opportunities.

The Palmer location was designed by Wolf Architecture and is being constructed by F-E Contracting.

“Both companies have been amazing to work with,” Lackey stated in a follow up email.

Parents can enroll to CCS via email palmer.enroll@ccsalaska.org or on their website ccsalaska.org/enrollment. For employment applications, visit ccsalaska.org/employment

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com