New Community Childcare Center

To address a need for additional, quality childcare services in Fairfield, Iowa, a coalition of community leaders, heads of local industry and officials from the State of Iowa came together to develop plans for what became Cambridge Little Achievers Center. Opened in 2023, the facility added nearly 200 daycare slots in Fairfield for children ages six weeks to 12 years.

The $4.1 million, 14,000 SF building is located adjacent to Jefferson County Health Center on land donated by the hospital. A $600,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the state supplemented donations from corporations including named investor Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., as well as other corporations, businesses, groups and individuals. Carl A. Nelson & Company (CANCO) came onto the project in 2021 as construction manager at-risk after the initial design-bid-build approach to constructing the project came back well over budget. Pre-construction efforts by CANCO were able to get the project within budget, and in-line with CDBG requirements.

Included in the facility are separate rooms for newborns, 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as for children ages 5 to 12 who will attend after-school programs at the center. Other spaces include office and reception, employee break room, a commercial kitchen for preparation of meals and snacks, laundry room, nurse's office, and a playground that is divided by age for older and younger children.