Page 2 - SEPT2022

Page 2
Community
LITTLE ANTLERS
continued from page 1
only businesses and large orga- nizations but from local residents as well. Among the public fund- ing they received was a Commu- nity Development Block Grant through the Community Devel- opment Finance Authority and a Public Facilities Grant. In ad- dition, Goudie said they also re- ceived many CDFA Tax Credits, a grant from the Northern Bor- der Regional Commission, and even a congressionally directed spending award, thanks to the support of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, representatives of Shaheen’s and Congresswoman Ann Kuster’s offices expressed their congratulations on the new center. Shaheen said she was confident the center will aid par- ents in balancing their personal and professional lives, knowing their children were well cared for, while Kuster expressed how quality childcare goes hand-in- hand with economic growth and opportunities in her congratula- tory remarks.
Executive Councilor Joe Ken-
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
September 2022
Alison Murphy, Director of Operations for Little Antlers Learning Center in Plymouth, helped young students Isabella and Delaney cut the ribbon on their new childcare and early education facility on July 28.
far, they were only able to accept a little over 60 children for ini- tial enrollment, but as they are able to bring in more qualified teachers and childcare assistants, the child population of the cen- ter will grow. It was important to note that 51 percent of the openings at Little Antlers are des- ignated for low- to moderate-in- come families.
“I probably wouldn’t be able to work if it wasn’t for this,” said mom Colleen Schoenbrun whose infant daughter Rose was one of the first enrollees at the facility.
Mid-State Health is still in the midst of a capital campaign to raise an additional $550,000 for Little Antlers Learning Center, and anyone who wishes to make a donation can contact Goudie at 603-254-8654 or email her at agoudie@midstatehealth.org.
Those who would like to join the staff, which would allow more children to be entered into the program, are asked to con- tact Murphy at 603-536-3898 or email careers@midstatehealth. org for job information and an application.
ney was also happy to be on hand for the event. Kenney said the state recognizes the need and im- portance of expanding childcare, and he was pleased to assist Mid- State in obtaining grants for the project as he cheered them on in their mission.
One other guest speaker was Fred Kocher of WMUR’s Sun- day morning “N.H. Business” show, who said he was not only impressed by the facility Mid- State Health has created but the community support they received
in building it.
“Little Antlers, in my opinion,
can be a model for other centers in the state,” Kocher said.
Before Director Alison Mur- phy and two of her new young students headed to the entrance to cut the ribbon, she expressed the appreciation of both she and her staff for the development of such a wonderful learning cen- ter. Working in childcare and ed- ucation for many years, she said she is proud and thankful to now have a facility that can provide
services at the level of Little Ant- lers Learning Center.
“This is so amazing,” she told the crowd on hand that day. “I’m so excited to move into this space and provide more care for the children in our community.”
Before the building was even halfway through the construction phase, Mid-State had received more than 100 applications for enrollment of children from in- fants to four-year-olds, proving just how great the need is in the region. With the staff hired thus