A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. today for Phase I of Clark College’s new Early Learning Center. The celebration will take place adjacent to the green parking lot Number One on the north end of the college’s main campus. Clark College is located at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.

LSW Architects, based in Vancouver, designed the 5,000- square foot structure, which is being built by JWC Construction. The facility is scheduled for completion by summer 2011.  Phase I will contain two flexible classroom spaces, a large multipurpose room, kitchen, and a resource center.

The project is made possible through a public-private partnership.  The state of Washington has provided $1 million for Phase I of the Early Learning Center on the condition that the college raises matching funds. During the dedication ceremony, officials will make an announcement regarding private support for the project.

Clark’s original Family Life Program (parent cooperative preschools) started immediately after World War II and evolved out of Kaiser Shipyard kindergartens. The original building for Clark’s Child and Family Services department was built in the 1970s with state of Washington funds acquired by former Senator Al Bauer.  Bauer participated in the dedication of the Cora Haag Parent Education Center on June 10, 1975. At the time, it was hailed as the only parent participation preschool operated by a college in Washington or Oregon.