Thursday, September 4, 2008 

(315)  798-5800

Picente: Child Care Facility at MVCC in Rome
Supports Growth of Griffiss Park
 

            Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. today announced that the growing Griffiss Business and Technology Park has access to a nearby new child care facility that can help parents working at the park have reliable care for their children.

            “Child care is an important part of the equation for working parents,” Picente said. “Employees are more productive when they have access to quality, reliable child care. Having child care close to work makes it easier for everyone. This new facility adjacent to Griffiss Park is the product of a great amount of effort from the Griffiss Federal Employee Child Care Group to provide child care for employees of the park and the nearby Rome employers that are growing. I’m happy to see this addition to the support services we are putting in place around Griffiss because it helps us make the area an even better place for people to live and work.”

            The Griffiss Federal Employee Child Care Group child care facility will be located on the Rome Campus of Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Floyd Ave.  

            "There's a natural connection between the folks who work and attend Griffiss Park and MVCC," said State Senator Joseph A. Griffo. "I'm also well-acquainted with the good work that the Griffiss Federal Employee Child Care Group does and I've supported them. I commend County Executive Picente and his Administration for recognizing these possibilities and for the folks at MVCC and Griffiss Park for encouraging the connection." He added, "Working families in this area have one less thing to worry about."

“This new child care center will meet the needs of working families in the Mohawk Valley region for quality, affordable child care in a convenient location,” said Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito (D/WF-Rome). “I have been meeting for some time with Ed Abounader and a group of representatives of the federal agencies at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park, and I know there was clearly a great deal of support and demand for this center.”

            "This is an important part of not only our community, but out future as well. I have met with Ed Abounader and Andrea Panera on a number of occasions to offer our support and assistance on moving this project forward,” said Mayor of Rome James Brown.  “To see if come to fruition is wonderful news for the working parents at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park and all who have worked so hard to bring us to today's announcement."

            “I also believe there is great significance to the fact that the child care facility will be on the Rome campus of our community college, MVCC,” Picente said. “MVCC offers a tremendous number of programs that working parents can access, and this will be a wonderful way for them to become more familiar with the college. This project is one more way that the college and community are linked, and that’s an important part of building a stronger region.”

            MVCC President Dr. Randall VanWagoner noted the significance of welcoming a new generation of learners to the College’s Rome Campus. “We know the importance of balancing work, family, and education,” he said. “By adding this critical service on our campus and making it available to so many, we hope that we will not only serve children well, but their parents too. We are grateful for the support of Oneida County in making this facility a reality.” 

            President of Mohawk Valley EDGE, Steven J. DiMeo said, “This new child care facility will provide additional support at Griffiss for what is now a major regional employment center in the Mohawk Valley and Central NY region.”

            Alice Savino, Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties , said the new facility would address one of the most important needs expressed by area workers.  "The more high-quality child care we have in this area, the more flexibility there is for working partners and the more opportunity there is for parents to enter the workforce," she said. "This facility meets a need for the growing opportunities at DFAS and Empire Aero and helps to make Griffiss and the Rome-area more family-friendly for working parents."