Childcare center opens in Falmouth, helping some families clear long waitlists
New Falmouth Child‑Care Center Opens With a Community‑Built Model
Falmouth, Maine – A fresh source of early‑learning care now fills a basement on Foreside Road, offering a new option for parents who have spent months on waitlists for childcare. The Caring Hearts Childcare Center began operating on September 8, 2026, after a ribbon‑cutting ceremony in late August that drew local officials, church members and curious families.
The facility, housed in the basement of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, can care for up to 49 children, but only 11 enrolled on the first day. Its rooms – a central area with tables and desks, several smaller play spaces, and a quiet corner – are designed for children between 18 months and kindergarten age. The space is already used by the church’s Sunday‑school program, and the weekly use of the basement sparked the idea to turn it into a full‑time child‑care center.
A Local Response to a National Shortage
“Finding childcare is challenging,” said Lori Smith, the center’s executive director. “When people see there’s another option, it’s a relief.” The center is part of a broader effort in Maine to address a chronic shortage of affordable early‑learning spots. Over 2 years ago, St. Mary’s parishioners noticed how many families in the Greater Portland area were stuck on month‑long waitlists, traveling long distances to find a spot or paying rates that strained budgets.
Toosie Smith, president of Caring Hearts’ board of directors – unrelated to Lori – said the church’s decision to lease the basement “at a very low cost” was a core part of the center’s financial model. “If you can give back to your community, that’s an important thing for anyone to do – especially for a church,” Toosie recalled.
Affordable, Sustainable Pricing
Caring Hearts charges $320 a week for toddlers and $300 a week for preschoolers. According to Smith, these rates allow 100 % of the families served to use Maine’s Child‑Care Affordability Program (CCAP). The state program pays providers the market rate for care, and parents contribute a sliding‑scale amount that can be as low as 10 % of income or even waived for families below 30 % of the state median income. The state last updated its market‑rate survey in 2024, and because many providers have to charge above that rate to stay viable, some opt out of CCAP.
Ally Forrester, program director for Coastal Enterprises Inc. – the community‑development financial institution that helped establish the center – explained the economics. “It’s a challenging small business to start and to sustain over time,” she said. “When providers can charge a higher rate to cover operating costs, they often choose not to accept CCAP, even though it would make care more affordable for families.”
By effectively eliminating rent through a church lease, Caring Hearts can pay staff a living wage while keeping fees lower than comparable centers. According to Forrester, a model where about 20 % of families use CCAP can be financially stable, and Caring Hearts hopes to push that percentage higher.
A Ripple of Community Benefit
The new center is already a point of conversation for town leaders. Adam Causey, Falmouth’s Director of Long‑Range Planning, highlighted the workforce implications. “We’re glad that local groups are taking initiative and saying, ‘Hey, there’s an issue and we can be part of the solution,’” Causey said. He pointed out that many of the town’s 124 full‑time employees—most of whom do not live in Falmouth—have children that must navigate the same waitlists. An affordable, nearby provider would ease the burden on parents who commute to work.
Forrester echoed this “ripple effect” idea, noting how a successful child‑care program supports not only families but also educators, local entrepreneurs, and regional employers. “Every successful childcare program is creating not only opportunities for the families that they serve but also for educators, for other entrepreneurs to do their work, for employers in the region,” she observed.
Looking Ahead
Caring Hearts is still in its early days, with 11 children already enrolled. The board plans to reach out to other churches and community groups to share its low‑cost leasing model and explore possibilities for new centers across Maine. “We don’t believe that Caring Hearts is the sole solution to providing care for all families in the Falmouth region,” said Toosie. “But it could have broader impacts if other centers adopt a similar approach.”
Families who signed up during the August open house, including the Meador twins who spent their first day playing with a large toy school bus, have already expressed enthusiasm. For parents, the center’s opening offers a simpler, more affordable alternative to the long waitlists and high prices that have defined the region’s childcare landscape.
As the new doors open each weekday, the community watches to see how many more families will join the dozen that have already begun their child‑care journey in this new, church‑backed center. The hope is that, over time, Caring Hearts will become a model for sustainable, community‑driven child‑care that can be replicated throughout Maine.
