FARMINGTON – Community Concepts Inc. has received $450,000 from the USDA’s Rural Development Program to build a Head Start facility on Galilee Road.

It would replace the one on Maguire Street owned by the University of Maine at Farmington, which wants the space for university use.

The $50,000 grant and low-interest loan of $400,000 would pay for the facility.

Progress has been slow, said Deb Florenz, director of Children Services, but officials hope to go to bid soon, start construction with the next couple months and be in the new space by fall.

The program is waiting to see if the university will extend the June 30 date for vacating the premises or provide an alternate location because it has taken longer to meet requirements and the new building won’t be ready by then, Florenz said. Regardless, she said, they will continue to provide services in Farmington.

The new building will contain two classrooms, one for early Head Start and one for preschool Head Start. Both programs are full day, full year services, she said, providing Head Start and child care services. The program services ages 3-5 in preschool and six weeks to age 3 for child care with a maximum number of eight infants and 18 preschool children.

The Head Start program, she said, provides developmentally appropriate services with an educational program that is geared to meet the children where they are and help prepare them for kindergarten. It also does screenings and arrange for health and dental services.

The program works with the parents to provide training and encourage them to volunteer within the classroom.