Vandenberg officials ‘cut ribbon’ for new CDC

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Green-Lanchoney
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
Team Vandenberg members and senior leaders were joined by U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps for the opening of the new child development center here May 11.

The new facility is slated to open to base-affiliated children May 21 and will provide 37 more child care slots.

"The new facility will have a capacity of 172 child care slots, but will hold a daily average of about 160 children," said Verna Brown, Vandenberg Child Development Center director.

The Vandenberg child care facility is one of 52 new facilities Air Force-wide.

"Child care is often the number one issue facing our military families," said Patti Dybdhal, 30th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Services Flight chief. "With the increase in child care spaces now available, the new CDC enables us to increase the availability of quality and affordable child care to our military community."

After almost two years of construction, the new CDC stands next to the previous child care facility.

"The kids saw the construction from the ground up," said Brown. "They are looking forward to getting over there."

The $9.7 million, 23,390-square-foot facility includes infant, pre-toddler, toddler and pre-school rooms as well as kitchen, administrative, lobby and outdoor play areas.

"The new center is so worth the wait," said Cheryl Sawyers, 30th Force Support Squadron commercial sponsorship coordinator and CDC parent. "It is so beautiful, clean and state of the art."

Inquiring parents of children between the ages of six weeks to five-years-old will be able to get a sneak-peak of the facility by age, coordinated by the CDC.