CFCC Unveils New Permanent Home for Free Drop-in Childcare Center

September 4, 2026

Indoor children’s play and learning area featuring a green-and-blue enclosed climbing structure with tunnels and padded ramps, a blue honeycomb-shaped climbing feature, a large green leaf-patterned rug, and low shelves filled with toys and dinosaur figures.

Wilmington, NC (September 4, 2026) – Cape Fear Community College has officially opened the new permanent home for its free drop-in childcare center. Located on the Downtown campus adjacent to the Bonnie Sanders Burney Child Development Center, the newly renovated facility marks a major expansion in CFCC’s commitment to removing barriers for student-parents.

Originally launched in August 2023 as the first free drop-in community college childcare program in North Carolina, the service began in a temporary space serving 20 children. Overwhelming demand led to an expanded location in 2024. Now, the initiative moves into its custom-designed 2,550-square-foot facility, complete with a 3,000-square-foot outdoor learning environment.

“For many student-parents, affordable, reliable childcare is the single greatest obstacle to completing a degree or credential,” said Jim Morton, CFCC President. “This new permanent home is a long-term investment in our students’ academic success and their families’ financial futures.”

The new drop-in childcare center was built specifically for early learning and flexible care.

Located in the former CFCC dental clinic space, which has since moved to the Saklad Health and Human Services Center, the facility offers:

  • Expanded Infant Care: Features an enclosed, quiet section specifically tailored for infants.
  • Flexible Learning Zones: An open single-classroom layout with multiple learning centers zoned for diverse age groups (ages 6 months through 12 years).
  • Outdoor Learning Environment: A 3,000-square-foot dedicated outdoor space designed for play-based education and physical development (opening end of September).

 In the past year, CFCC provided 10,966 hours of free childcare, saving student-parents an estimated $154,000 in care costs.  The center operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To learn more about CFCC’s drop-in childcare services, visit https://cfcc.edu/drop-in-childcare/

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