BETHEL — Serving children ages six weeks through 5 years, a new childcare and early learning center is coming to Bethel after $1.45 million in federal and state funding was approved.

“MSAD 44 has been proud to partner with Community Concepts to establish this important and much-needed resource for area families,” said former Superintendent David Murphy. “This will provide important socialization and early learning opportunities for pre-school age children in our community.”
With 12 teachers and staff, three classrooms, and a fenced-in playground, this much-needed resource will be able to serve 40 children in the Bethel area.

“We are excited to be offering this new facility and opportunity for quality care in the Bethel area,” said Community Concepts Director of Children’s Services, Kim Bessette. “Our program has been established in the Bethel area for over 35 years and to finally be able to have a new location is quite exciting. We will soon be posting new positions and advertising for child applications.”

A groundbreaking ceremony for the roughly 3,300 square-foot building, to be located at 310 West Bethel Road (Route 2), will be announced at a later date.

“Thanks to the generous support of the Bingham Betterment Foundation, Sunday River Resort, the Maine Community Foundation, and others, additional funds have also been raised to cover the utility costs for the facility during its first several years of operation,” said Murphy.