CHEYENNE - Four-year-old Tristan Gable of Riverton was introduced as one reason a half dozen men with gold-plated shovels broke ground Friday for a new child care center that is being offered as a model for other communities in the state.

Tristan's father had to begin work at Bailey Enterprises at 7 a.m. two hours before his current day care center opened.

No child care center in Riverton had extended hours.

So Tristan ended up hanging out with the folks at Bailey Enterprises, including the president Mike Bailey.

And that's what prompted a two-year effort to plan and fund the Great Valley Child Care Center, Bailey said Friday during the ground-breaking ceremonies attended by more than 30 observers on a cold, albeit sunny day.

Bailey, who spearheaded the effort, said he found a huge need in the community for extended child care from employees of other businesses and the hospital.

The new child care center will be open 18 hours a day. It will include an integrated preschool program.

"It will be a tremendous help to our employees and other employees of the town," Bailey said.

Bailey developed a business plan to operate the child care center - if funds could be found to build it.

The City of Riverton and economic development group IDEA Inc. submitted an application for money through the Wyoming Business Council's Business Ready Communities Program.

The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) that includes the governor and the four other statewide elected officials ultimately approved the request in January for $1.48 million, after the business council did not recommend the program for approval.

IDEA Inc. obtained a long-term lease for a building site at the Central Wyoming College Business Park; bids were issued and Mid Valley Construction of Riverton was chosen general contractor.

Alan Moore, president of IDEA, Inc. said the child care project can be a "work force multiplier" by enabling mothers to enter the work force and as a tool to recruit new young families to the community.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim McBride said the SLIB initially rejected the idea for fear the state might end up paying for child care centers in every Wyoming community.

McBride said Bailey finally convinced him the SLIB the plan would work.

"Nothing is more important than early childhood development," McBride said.

The preschool program to be offered will help parents to prepare their children for school, he said.

Auditor Max Maxfield, another SLIB member said the project "combines quality of life, education and economic development."

The idea for the center came out of the 2004 Children and Families Initiative, supported by Gov. Dave Freudenthal to involve a broad range of individuals committed to improving life for families, according to a news release from the child care center.

The bill that passed the Legislature and was signed by Freudenthal allocates $1.4 million to rate and subsidize child care centers in Wyoming although some of the money cannot be spent without further legislative action.

Capital reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at

joan.barron@casperstartribune.net