Courtesy / MCCS
Doug Binsfeld, Northern Maine Community College
July 10, 2025
Northern Maine Community College teams up with nonprofits to offer child care on campus
Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle will partner with three Aroostook County nonprofits to offer child care on campus.
The child care center will fill a "pressing need" for students and the wider community, the school's president said.
The three nonprofit partners are United Way of Aroostook, Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center and Aroostook County Action Program.
Doug Binsfeld, president of the community college, called it a unique collaboration.
“This center not only meets a pressing need for families in our region, but also provides a hands-on learning environment that will help prepare our early childhood education students to lead in the field," he said.
About the center
Renovations on the center started in 2023. It is located in the Crowley Building and day-to-day operations will be led by the Aroostook County Action Program.
Students and staff will have priority enrollment for their children; secondary priority will go to University of Maine at Presque Isle students. The remaining capacity will be available to the community.
The center will serve as a lab school, supporting the college's early childhood education program and providing a setting for students to gain the hours of field experience required to become a state-credentialed child development associate.
The center is expected to open in the coming months, offering flexible hours that include evening care. Meals will also be provided through the Child and Adult Care program.
“This facility will not only provide much-needed childcare but also serve as a training ground for future early childhood educators,” said Melanie Tompkins, director of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center. "By investing in both care and education, we’re helping to build a stronger, more sustainable childcare system for Aroostook County.”
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