Periwinkle Child care facility makeover

If you have ventured near LBCC’s pickleball courts you have seen all the workers on the roof of

the Periwinkle Center, along with the fenced up area where people usually park at the Albany

campus.

The Periwinkle Child Development Center is home to the child resource center. All the workers

and closed fence was due to the expansion and remodeling of the building. Now the work is

done and students, staff and their families will reap the fruits of the labor.

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, it was time for the grand opening, introducing the newly remodeled

building. Former teachers, college board members, and Albany City Council members along

with the mayor showed up to add to the importance of this event and show their support.

From the outside the Periwinkle Center may be just like any other college building, but going

inside you can see the magic in the air among the people that have a part in helping children.

Wonder and warmth filled the air as these compassionate people displayed big smiles and

positiveness to make anyone feel good. These are the people that are doing what they can to

help children, our future adults.

A lot of parents are students and the college wants to give them the resources to succeed, and low-cost childcare is a big part of that, said Lisa Avery, president of LBCC and

one of the speakers at the grand opening.

“The childcare center fits that mission perfectly,” she said.

Nationwide, more than two million community college students are parents of children under 18.

Seventy percent of these parents are mothers, and many of these mothers are ethnically

diverse. The economic well-being of those families is highly dependent on successful

completion of degrees and certificates leading to high wages.

President Avery noted that the center at LBCC’s campus had a nearly 100% “walls in” remodel,

meaning that the entire interior was touched in the process of the renovation. Some of it was

cosmetic, while other changes were structural and safety-related.

A key component to keeping the Periwinkle Center’s programs sustainable is to seek, obtain,

and maintain grant funding that will help keep operational costs low. In addition to keeping the

fees for parents low, the college is striving to pay fair wages to the early childhood educators, so it will be important to have external funders who will help.

President Avery has been working in higher education for more than 25 years. She said, “I love

using my experience to help LBCC best serve our communities.” She and her family live in this

community, and her kids go to high school and college here.

With so many people standing behind this project – including Albany Mayor Alex Johnson, and

former and current city council members – and the outcome it will make, it seems this program

will be around to help people with childcare, resources, and a lot of what is needed for our children to get a chance to get started in the right direction.

AT  A GLANCE:

Who does Periwinkle allow to attend?

A discounted rate applies if you are an LBCC student parent. For full-time care for a preschooler (3-5 years), 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, the rate is $250 per month. The general community rate is $900/month. 

What are the tuition rates if parents are LBCC staff or faculty?

Staff and faculty of LBCC also get discounted rates. For full-time care for a preschooler (3-5 years), 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, it is $750/month. 

How do I register my child?

Send in an application by going to this link: Periwinkle Application. It will take you to a free account for Brightwheel, which is the center’s database, and then to the interest application. After you return your interest application, you will receive an online enrollment packet. You can also stop by the center for a tour and to pick up a physical paper packet if you like!

The official tuition rate sheet is attached so you can see the rates for toddlers (2-3 years) and the rates in the event that LBCC students would like to pay by term (financial aid can help; ask your advisor. Rates are broken down by age group (toddler or preschooler), then by the community, student, and staff rate. Pricing is broken down per month for community and staff, and by month and term for students. 

For more information:

If you have questions or want to take a tour, email Kendra Votava, director of the Periwinkle Child Development Center, at votavak@linnbenton.edu or at periwinkle@linnbenton.edu.