CCS celebrates new Fairview facility with ribbon cutting ceremony

WASILLA — CCS Early Learning celebrated the official grand opening of the newest center off Fairview Loop with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, March 2.

Members of the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, and other notable public figures joined community members for the special occasion.

There was even a tiny ribbon-cutting ceremony within the ceremony with young children participating.

The Fairview center is the latest edition to the fleet of facilities located across the Mat-Su Valley and Chugiak communities.

"We're just so thrilled we get to continue making progress," CCS Executive Director Mark Lackey said.

CCS has served thousands of children since its inception in the 1970s, according to Lackey.

He said all their services are grant funded and this new facility was no exception. He said they were able to construct the building thanks to federal funding related to the 2018 earthquake. He said their biggest supporters, the Mat-Su Health Foundation and Rasmuson Foundation played a big role in helping them bring their vision to life.

Lackey credited the vast network of staff, local families, and community partners for helping them reach this important milestone.

"We're really excited," Lackey said. "Something like this doesn't happen without a lot of people working really hard."

CCS utilizes two federally based learning programs, Head Start (ages 3-5) and Early Head Start (ages 3 and younger).

The new facility will help them reach more local families closer to where they live and meet the ongoing need for early childhood education programs across the community.

"The work our staff does is phenomenal,"

For more information, visit .ccsalaska.org.

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