BETHEL — On Thursday, July 25, Community Concepts and local officials broke ground on the new Sharon Wilson Cox Early Learning Center at 310 West Bethel Road, which is tentatively scheduled to open in January 2025.

The new Head Start Early Learning Center, which will also be known as Sharon’s Place, is named after a former Community Concepts Children’s Services Employee, Sharon Wilson Cox, who passed away from cancer in 2023 and had been with the organization since 1978.

“It is hard to put into words that it is nothing short of extraordinary the profound impact she had with children, their families, and the community, as well as her friends, family, and myself,” said Sean Wilson, Sharon’s son. “She would feel deeply honored and a little humbled by this type of recognition. It is a testament to her unwavering dedication and her hard and heartfelt work.”

Open to children ages 6 weeks through 5 years and having a staff of 12 with three classrooms, the learning center will serve 40 children in the Bethel area. The project would not be possible without $1.45 million in federal and state funding as well as $62,000 in donations from Sunday River, and grants from The Maine Community Foundation and the Bingham Betterment Foundation.

“We have been in Bethel serving children and families for more than 40 years, so this is the start of the next 40 years of remaining committed to this area,” said Director of Children’s Services, Kim Bessette.

Community Concepts CEO Jim Martin added that “education and childcare continue to be some of the biggest needs for rural and Western Maine, and we are proud to be here to provide this crucial service to this community.”