3/3/99

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University officials are soliciting proposals from local, regional and national child care providers interested in operating a new child care center on The Ridges for university faculty, staff and students.

About 25 requests for proposals are being mailed this week, mostly to local providers. Those interested in operating the child care center will be asked to develop a proposal outlining their plans for the facility, including information about programming, client fees and staff training.

"The selection process will allow us to identify the appropriate program," said Nancy Crist, special assistant to the president and chair of the child care committee.

The child care center will be located in a former horse barn on The Ridges complex. Reiser, Valentour and Callahan, a local architect company, has been hired to renovate the building into an 8,000- to 12,000-square-foot facility. The center, expected to open in September 2000, will serve about 140 children ages 6 weeks through 5 years.

University officials began planning the creation of the child care center after listening to concerns from faculty and staff about limited child care opportunities for families with infants and toddlers.

"We've pursued this initiative because in our discussion with employees as well as in consultation with those in touch with the local child care community, we have identified a significant need for child care for infants and children up to 18 months old," Crist said.

That need is anticipated to grow as turnover continues at the university, Crist said, with increasing numbers of younger faculty replacing retiring ones.

Proposals from child care providers must be submitted to the Purchasing Department by April 12. Providers who have not received a proposal request can do so by calling Crist at (740) 593-1804. After the deadline, a five-member committee will review the proposals.