Families and the entire community are getting a boost in Enderby.
A ceremonial groundbreaking has been held for expansion of the Enderby Preschool.
"Construction will start as soon as the ground thaws and I'll be out there with a blow dryer," said Cheryl Heidt, manager of care.
Currently, the school has 23 after-school spaces and two prechool spaces of 20 children each, but the expansion will allow for 32 additional spaces of multi-age children and ages three to five.
It's been two years since the society applied for funding, and a provincial grant of $424,618 was received last year for the $625,000 project.
About $70,000 still needs to be raised but that doesn't appear to be a concern.
"Once people see physical construction, things usually move ahead," said Mayor Greg McCune of donations.
Anyone wanting to contribute to the expansion can contact the preschool and a fundraiser will be held as part of the Enderbeer and Wine Festival July 29.
Support to date has come from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District, the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, the Enderby Credit Union and the Enderby Lions Club.
The goal is to have the expansion completed by Sept. 1.
"It has to be then as it's back to school time then," said Heidt.
The expansion comes as there is growing demand for child care in Enderby, and McCune hopes the project will attract families to town.
"Families can come and go from age zero to high school in great facilities," he said.
"It's great for the economy because it keeps families here."
Greg Kyllo, Shuswap MLA, is also eager to see the expansion proceed because of the impact it will have on families.
"For people to find full-time employment, it's important for them to have access to child care. This is one way the govern,went is assisting with that," he said.