By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Construction of Bright Beginnings took less than a year to complete, and now the childcare facility has a day of operation complete. The doors opened to Bright Beginnings on Monday, available for children ages six weeks to five years old.
The 6,500-square-foot daycare, a project facilitated by Great Bend Economic Development’s Advancing Barton County Childcare, is an accomplishment a long-time coming according to Economic Development Director Sara Arnberger.
"This has been a long road," said Arnberger. "I'm very excited to say it was a successful day. We had lots of great feedback from parents and kiddos."
Arnberger added Bright Beginnings is full on infants and toddler spots, but the childcare is still accepting enrollment for preschool-aged children.
"I stopped by in the afternoon when one of the kids was leaving, and he said 'Mom, this was the best day ever.' I think that's a success. I'll take it."
The daycare, which will accommodate up to 80 children, was made possible, in part, with a $500,000 contribution from the Patterson Family Foundation and a $2.23 million grant from the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund Child Care Capacity Accelerator. The Barton County Commission contributed $435,000 to the facility.