CANCO-led childcare center earns community award

Cambridge Little Achievers Center in Fairfield, Iowa, opened in January 2023. In April, the new childcare facility was announced winner of the Project of the Year Award for 2022 by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. Carl A. Nelson & Company was construction manager at-risk for the project, providing pre-construction and construction services. CANCO photo

1 year, 6 months ago

FAIRFIELD, Iowa — Cambridge Little Achievers Center, a new childcare center that opened in January 2023 after being shepherded to completion by the project management and field leadership of Carl A. Nelson & Company (CANCO), was announced in April as 2022 Project of the Year by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.

The award was presented during the chamber's annual awards dinner in April.

CANCO was engaged as construction manager at-risk by Jefferson County Kids, Inc., and its community partners, including the Fairfield Economic Development Association, and played a pivotal role in bringing the project to completion through its pre-construction services. Initially let in 2021 as a design-bid-build project, organizers later turned to CANCO for assistance with getting the project design within budget and aligned with requirements of a $600,000 Community Development Block Grant from the State of Iowa. Following the March 2022 groundbreaking, office and field leadership from Carl A. Nelson & Company managed the project through the construction phase.

The $4.1 million, 14,000 SF facility was built on land adjacent to and donated by Jefferson County Health Center, and supported through a combination of state grant funds and local contributions from corporate, group and individual donors. It has capacity for up to 180 children ages six weeks through 12 years.

"Carl A. Nelson & Company is pleased to have had the opportunity to help lead this project for the families and community of Fairfield," said Chris Smith, CANCO vice president of operations (Burlington). "We congratulate Cambridge Little Achievers Center and the board of Jefferson County Kids on this much-deserved recognition."