A new, much needed child care centre is coming to Petrolia.
Right now the wait list for child care in the community has over 300 children.
In February, Lambton County councillors agreed to use provincial funding to hire an architect to investigate the feasibility of building a new facility at Lambton Meadowview Villa in Enniskillen Township.
In Wyoming on Wednesday, council approved and authorized staff to move ahead with the design, engineering and construction of a 49 space child care facility on the north side of the long-term care facility.
The new 5,385 square foot centre, expected to be completed by December 2026, will be geared towards children zero to four years old.
The two-year project is estimated to cost $5,857,188.
Council also approved the county drawdown of $1,636,380 from the Children Services Reserve and to seek additional debt financing of up to $1,911,851 for the funding of the project.
Under the provincial Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care (“CWELCC”) agreement, municipalities are required to create local child care expansion plans that support child care access for low-income children, vulnerable children, children from diverse communities, children with special needs, Francophone and Indigenous children, and rural communities with a focus on improving equity of access.