AUGUSTA – Waterville has been chosen as the pilot community for a $10 million early childhood education center that is being funded through a public-private partnership.

It beat out three other communities – including Lewiston-Auburn – that were invited to apply for the innovative program, which focuses on brain development among Maine’s youngest residents. Waterville, Bangor, Portland and L-A were all designated as potential pilot sites due to the number of children facing developmental threats because of poverty or other hurdles.

The Maine Educare center is modeled on a national program and will serve 150 to 200 mostly low-income children from birth to age 5, providing centralized health care and educational services together under one roof. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.

Local early childhood professionals considered submitting an application for L-A, but were unable to find a lead philanthropist to commit the private money to anchor the fund. The Alfond family in Waterville provided $2 million to the program.

Lauren Sterling, of the governor’s Children’s Cabinet, said the program requires a deep commitment from public and private child development agencies, programs and providers to succeed, since the model reallocates revenue among them. Once the pilot program is up and running, she anticipates there will be opportunities to expand.

“We hope this is the beginning of an initiative to extend and replicate in other localities,” she said. “It will have an impact, no matter where it is.”

Joleen Bedard, executive director of Androscoggin County United Way, said local supporters only had two months to find the private financing needed to meet a $3 million challenge grant offered by Doris Buffett, sister of billionaire Warren Buffett. But she said local interest in Educare remains high.

“It’s a great service to offer families,” Bedard said. “And in this community, we have a really good dialogue among social service providers. I hope there’ll be other opportunities.”

The program was announced Monday by Karen Baldacci, first lady, an advocate for children. She said the center’s highest priority is to maximize the school-readiness and life success of children who are at risk.

Construction of the center is being paid for through private funding, while the ongoing operating costs will come from federal, state and local funds. The intent is to have the center serve as a model for training early child care specialists, as well provide services to children and their families.