The groundwork for the facility will be finished soon and construction of the actual structure will begin. The facility is expected to open by Nov. 30.

The housing authority received a $2.4 million Housing and Urban Development grant in September 2011, and was one of five of the 58 candidates for the grant to receive money, according to a press release from Gordon Stitham, executive director of the housing authority. There also will be space available for employers to use it for employee trainings. Stitham stressed that the facility is meant to be used by the community.

Stitham said the child care center is named after Jean Lyford, who operated Jack & Jill Nursery out of her home in Brewer for 35 years. She will celebrate her 90th birthday in May, and still lives in Brewer with Lawrence “Bud” Lyford, her husband of 69 years.

In his remarks, Stitham thanked all of those involved in developing the center and bringing it to this point, including partners Eastern Maine Development Corp./Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Bangor Adult & Community Education, Eastern Maine Community College, Information Technology Exchange/PC’s of Maine, in addition to North Architectural Design and Nickerson & O’Day, among others.

A copyright article from the Bangor Daily News by Julie Murchison Harris