WILTON — Community Concepts has purchased and is in the process of renovating the former SeniorsPlus building at 251 US Route 2 for a new Head Start facility.

An opening date has not been determined yet, Jim Wilkins, director of advancement for Community Concepts, said Thursday.

The Head Start is currently on Route 2 in Farmington diagonally across from Franklin Memorial Hospital.

The newly renovated Wilton facility will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, for Early Head Start and Head Start programs for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, he said. It serves multiple communities in the area.

“The new center will have a capacity for up to 28 children, and at the moment there is a fairly low waiting list for parents to enroll children,” he said.

Although there are eligibility requirements such as income and parents needing to be employed or in school for at least 30 hours per week, since it’s a full-time center, the Head Start can accept some children of parents who are over income guidelines, he said.

Last fall, Community Concepts began the process to seek a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan through its community investment program, which makes funds available to nonprofit agencies, he said. They have worked with architects to plan the necessary changes and updates to the single-story building formerly used as a senior center.  They are now seeking construction bids from contractors, which will be opened March 23. Contractors may contact William Hamilton of Joy & Hamilton Architects at 782-1212 for questions about the project.

The organization is looking forward to owning it’s own facility, Wilkins said.

“No more moving or wondering what happens next time the lease comes due. New regulations requiring modifications can put a lot of pressure on a landlord,” he said.

“Our goal is to provide uninterrupted services for the children and their parents. Some weekend we’ll move in and open the doors Monday,” he added.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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