CATOOSA, Okla. – Cherokee Nation leaders gathered Thursday to break ground on a child development center for the Catoosa community and children of Cherokee Nation employees.
The $25 million project is a response to a community need for affordable child care, as well as Cherokee Nation employee need near one of the tribe’s largest employment centers.
“Quality, affordable child care is a necessity for growing Cherokee families,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “National research shows about two-thirds of children under age 6 have all available parents in the workforce. That means parents are too often faced with a choice between career aspirations and the best-available care for their children. That’s no choice at all.
“This investment, as a piece of Cherokee Nation’s strategic investments into health care, child care and education, means more options and financial support for Cherokee families and our Catoosa neighbors when they need it most.”
Nationally, about half of children under 5 years old in the U.S. live in a child care desert, meaning options are out of reach due to proximity or cost, according to research from the Center for American Progress. A recent Oklahoma study indicates Rogers County is one of the state’s child care deserts.
A 2022 Cherokee Nation study examined early childhood education needs throughout the Cherokee Nation Reservation, identifying Rogers County and other locations as opportunities for investment.
Cherokee Nation has long invested in early childhood education, including its Head Start programs, which were first started in 1978 and now serve more than 900 students at seven locations. Earlier this year, Chief Hoskin signed into law the reauthorization of Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act, which provides $80 million to replace aging Head Start centers across the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
In addition to its Head Start programs, Cherokee Nation recently began a child development center in Sallisaw, upgrades to a center in Stilwell, and a new facility in Pryor that combines Head Start and child development center services.
“This state-of-the-art facility, located next to our flagship Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, will support one of our largest employment centers and the surrounding community,” said Chuck Garrett, Cherokee Nation Businesses CEO. “We’re proud to meet the needs of our employees and our community partners.”
The planned, 33,600 square-foot facility will offer 10 total classrooms, comprising four preschool classrooms for ages 2-3 1/2, and six classrooms for ages 0-2. In addition to the 10 classrooms, the facility will have two motor-skills rooms that will double as storm shelters, a full commercial kitchen and administrative office space.