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Construction of new child development center in Patriot’s Landing begins

  • Published
  • By Christine Spargur
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE,Ill. --  

13 people stand in a row with shovels to symbolize the groundbreaking of a new piece of constriction.

375th Air Mobility Wing leadership, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District, 375th Force Support Squadron and military children pose for a photo during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Child Development Center on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 21, 2025. A new Child Development Center is set to finish construction in 2027.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shelby Rapert)
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Scott Air Force Base leaders broke ground on April 21, 2025, to kick off construction of a new child development center in the Patriot’s Landing housing area.

This new facility will be the third child development center on base. Located next door to the base Youth Center and across the street from Scott Elementary School, this new center will include 12 childcare classrooms and will expand the base’s childcare capacity by accommodating 152 children.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Col. John Poole, installation commander and commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing, thanked everyone who brought this project into reality.

 

"I couldn't be prouder of the team for what they've done that is going to manifest itself physically, right here."Col. John Poole, 375th AMW commander

 

Poole then introduced Shannon Dauber, chief of the Child and Youth Service Flight for the 375th Force Support Squadron, who has been championing this project for Team Scott families.

“Childcare is not just a nice to have amenity, but a true mission requirement. Our military members make a lot of sacrifices to serve our country,” Dauber said. “Ensuring their children are well cared for in a safe environment by qualified, trained professionals gives them peace of mind to accomplish their military missions.”

Child with a hard hat on passes out cookies to the crowd
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2 Airmen and one Civilian Contractor clap and smile at each other.
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A man in a military uniform stands at a podium and speaks.
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Shovels stand straight up in dirt.
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A man in a military uniform stands at a podium to deliver a speech to a group of people who are under an awning.
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Dauber also recognized the timing of the groundbreaking ceremony during April’s Month of the Military Child saying it is a perfect way to celebrate Scott’s military children by creating a new space to care for them. Six children from the current two child development centers participated in the ceremonial groundbreaking wearing purple to acknowledge the month.

Managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Louisville District, the $19.8 million construction of this third child development center was awarded to Zodiac-Poettker HBZ Joint Venture III, LLC. Construction is scheduled to be finished by December 2026 with the center ready for use by June 2027.