A dream years in the making finally became a reality Friday, as the new Middle Tyger Education Center officially opened its doors to the District Five community. Following a formal ceremony, that included SC Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, District Five Superintendent Dr. Randall Gary, and former SC State Representative Rita Allison, leaders cut the ribbon on the $19 million facility that will aim to transform childcare in the Upstate. Hundreds of supporters, investors and community partners cheered as the new center, which has been touted as model across the state and nationally, opened to the public.
"Opening the Middle Tyger Education Center today is an important investment in the childcare for our community," says Executive Director, Haley Grau. "But more importantly, it serves as a model that we can solve the national childcare shortage. It just requires collaboration and people coming together."
The 48,000 square foot facility will greatly improve Middle Tyger's ability to serve local parents and families. The original Middle Tyger Community Center only had space for 60 students, in infant through 4K classrooms. The new Education Center increases the childcare capacity to 265 students, a 300% increase. "Oftentimes, if you live in this part of Spartanburg County, you cannot find adequate childcare," says Grau. "This center serves to open our capacity to greater serve our community so that children have an opportunity to grow and have a better start to life, and parents have an opportunity to be in the workforce."
The center includes 17 beautiful classrooms, an indoor nature trail, accessible playgrounds, and three large training spaces for staff. District Five Superintendent Dr. Randall Gary says its impact on the community is immeasurable. "Data has shown that giving kids an early start, before Kindergarten, with quality childcare is going to pay dividends for years to come," says Dr. Gary. "This is not just a great day for Middle Tyger and District Five, it's a great day for our community."