Jackson Lab proposes to build childhood center to recruit and retain employees
New England Council member, Jackson Laboratory proposed a plan to build a childhood center on its Bar Harbor campus. The lab will contract a local Bangor engineering firm to assist with the project. The proposed facility is Jackson Lab’s solution to help recruit and retain employees by allowing access to childcare on-site.
Jackson Lab has cited that providing affordable housing and childcare to their employee is a primary concern for the lab. The on-site childhood care facility would be located at the southern end of the lab’s campus and include a fenced outdoor play space, a drop-off loop and 10 parking spaces. The facility would serve 53 children and 20 staff. The new construction will also benefit the community has it will open capacity at other local childcare facilities. The attractive offer of on-site childcare is expected to help fill the current job openings at Bar Harbor and entice former employees who left the workforce due to the pandemic to return to the lab.
Jackson Lab’s senior director of facilities services, John Fitzpatrick said, “[w]e see childcare as an essential part of our recruitment and retention strategy. We think this offers an attractive benefit to our employees.”
The New England Council would like to commend Jackson Laboratory for its dedication to proving accessible childcare for New Englanders.
Read more from MaineBiz.