The Challenge

When the Educare Learning Network expressed interest in partnering with The Davis Foundation for a new high quality early education school in Springfield, O’Connell Development Group (“ODG”) was engaged by the sponsors to provide them with a multidisciplinary approach to develop this school, which included assistance in obtaining national, regional and local funding sources and finding a suitable location. After a location was selected in an under-resourced community, still rebuilding after a 2011 tornado that struck the area, ODG was tasked with delivering a new 27,000 square foot facility with a committed opening date. At opening day, the school will serve 141 children from newborns to age five and must support full-day, year-round programming.

The ODG Approach

O’Connell Development Group was selected after a competitive interview process by Educare Springfield (“Educare”) to provide comprehensive development services, including assisting and guiding the client through private and public grant applications, New Market Tax Credit financing and then permitting and construction. ODG worked with Educare’s sponsors to define the project scope and construct a $14 million school located at 100 Hickory Street, Springfield, MA. O’Connell Development Group, in collaboration with its affiliated companies Western Builders and Appleton Corporation, provided the sponsor with coordinated resources and expertise. Working closely with Educare’s design team, O’Connell Development Group managed the project and was successful in delivering the school on time and on budget.

The Result

The development of an Educare school is an organic, community-driven effort. Local partners must work together to assemble the necessary expertise, community engagement and resources required to develop an Educare school in their community. Because Educare schools are a platform for policy and practice change, the Educare Learning Network seeks to partner with communities and organizations engaging in innovative, high-quality early childhood network. ODG is proud to partner with Educare Springfield in this community effort.

The school will be the only one in Massachusetts and only the second in New England. The new state-of-the-art facility will provide the area’s most vulnerable children with the necessary support and education that will increase their chances for success later in life.