CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Families in Middlesex Township spent Tuesday afternoon checking out what will soon be the area’s newest childcare center.
Tender Years, a family-owned company, is gearing up to open its fifth location on Harrisburg Pike. It will provide care and early education programs.
“We’ll be able to accommodate about 150 families here and be able to provide employment for about another 30 to 35 staff members as well," said Courtney Enterline, director of Tender Years, Inc.'s newest location.
“Four out of the five locations we operate are in Cumberland County [where we] recognize that growing boom, influx of people moving into the county and we’re trying to meet that demand," said Jay Krebs, who owns Tender Years with his sister, Kimberly Shearer.
That demand stretches far beyond central Pennsylvania.
Amid staffing struggles, it’s become a nationwide issue that childcare providers are working to combat.
“When COVID hit there were a lot of providers that went out of business or decided this is just too hard," Krebs explained.
Krebs says company-wide, Tender Years facilities are close to 90% full, and this new location will help to ease that.
“We’re here to provide a service for the community and I think that’s the important part," he said.
The facility will feature classrooms for infants through school age, as well as a 10,500-square-foot playground designed to promote the development of motor and social skills.
Another challenge facing both families and providers is the cost associated with childcare.
“I think the cost is a very difficult situation because we have to charge a certain amount in order to meet our expenses, in order to pay this beautiful facility, to be able to operate correctly and provide benefits and a living wage, so yeah it’s a balancing act," said Krebs.
Krebs is hopeful other resources, like state and federal government, as well as employers, will continue to do their part in helping.
“We really value the family atmosphere not only with the children but with our staff," he said. "Everyone is part of our family who works here.”
The new center is expected to open by the end of the year.