Boys and Girls Club breaks ground on Eureka Early Learning Center

Note: The Eureka Groundbreaking Ceremony, previously scheduled for October 15 at 2 p.m., has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts with key partners. A new date will be shared once it’s confirmed.

A dedicated group of local parents who spent years advocating for early childhood resources are seeing their vision realized. The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows (BGCTM) is breaking ground on the Eureka Early Learning Center (ELC), a new, purpose-built facility that will be the community’s first licensed childcare operation.

The official groundbreaking ceremony is being planned at the site located at 100 Diamond Peak Dr. Community members, families and local leaders are invited to attend this milestone event.

The center is designed to provide year-round care for up to 60 children ranging in age from six weeks to five years old, while also offering after-school programs for older youth.

A local need becomes a statewide priority

The journey to secure the facility began approximately three years ago when a core group of local parents, whom BGCTM president and CEO Mike Wurm affectionately refers to as “the Eureka moms,” first reached out to the organization.

These concerned citizens recognized an absence of licensed early childhood education for the under-five age group. The Eureka mothers connected with local advocate Caroline McIntosh, who had previously worked with Wurm to bring the Boys & Girls Club system to Fernley years earlier.

“We want some of what you have for our kids in Eureka,” was the message relayed to the organization. The parents’ focus was clear: to fill the void for high-quality services for the youngest learners, a need that other local youth organizations agreed was the most pressing.

An investment in Eureka’s economic future

For a community heavily reliant on industries like mining and ranching, the Eureka Early Learning Center is seen as more than just a daycare — it’s a powerful economic tool.

“This project is more than a building — it’s a bold investment in Eureka’s future,” said Wurm. He stressed the direct economic benefits: “Reliable childcare gives families a reason to stay, helps local businesses recruit and retain employees and strengthens the overall economy.”

Wurm pointed out that the lack of licensed childcare is one of the “big mountains to climb” for rural Nevada, alongside housing. He challenges the concept that opening a childcare center might strain the already small workforce. Instead, he believes the facility has the potential to expand the available labor pool as the ELC can free parents to work in local industries, thereby bolstering the local economy.

The CEO also noted that Eureka has already established a solid foundation of local amenities, including a school district that provides “great services,” the function of Raine’s Market for essential supplies and ongoing efforts by the county to secure medical services. Adding licensed childcare provides another piece to the puzzle.

Obtaining funding

The process of translating local need into a physical facility involved a multi-year effort to secure resources. BGCTM went through an initial year and a half of conversations, during which they struggled to find funds for the project. Wurm admitted it was nearly “dead in the water.”

The breakthrough came through an alignment of unique circumstances: the availability of pandemic relief funding and a state administration prioritizing early childhood education. BGCTM, working as part of the statewide Boys & Girls Club State Alliance, decided to make a specific focus on rural Nevada.

The alliance made a plea to the state using residual ARPA and CARES Act funding, and while applying for projects in Winnemucca and Washoe County, they included a “Hail Mary” ask to build the ELC in Eureka. The state alliance successfully secured a large grant, with a critical $3.2 million piece of it specifically designated for the Eureka project.

Wurm called this opportunity a “once in a lifetime set of circumstances” that suddenly made the project possible, enabling the organization to move forward with architects, contractors and a building design.

A model for rural growth and partnership

The Eureka ELC is the latest example of BGCTM’s long-standing commitment to rural Nevada, which Wurm acknowledges comes with challenges. However, the commitment is intentional and rooted in a belief in the reciprocal benefits of the partnership.

BGCTM does not use a “cookie-cutter approach” to growth, understanding that each rural community, including Eureka, is unique. The goal is to be viewed as a partner coming in to fill voids, not to “take anybody over.”

Lessons learned from previous ventures are continuously applied to strengthen BGCTM’s outreach strategy. Wurm emphasized that every new rural experience strengthens the organization, allowing it to operate not just as a Washoe County entity, but as a stronger, more diverse Northern Nevada movement.

“It’s not just us bringing resources there, but it brings…greater value, creates better diversity, makes us more of a state movement,” he stated.

Programs and fees

The ELC will feature year-round availability, including during summer and school breaks, and will also provide food for the children.

The fee structure, like BGCTM’s other early learning centers, is determined by a formula that factors in state-mandated staff-to-child ratios, the age of the children and the costs of providing full service.

Wurm said the organization is committed to ensuring the program is accessible to everyone. While fees will be established to match the community and cover operating costs, a financial assistance system is in place. Families who cannot afford the established fees can apply for financial assistance on a sliding scale.

Furthermore, BGCTM plans to engage with local businesses to explore the possibility of employee subsidies for childcare. Wurm expects to open the facility slowly, one room at a time, to manage staffing and costs effectively as demand builds.

Community buy-in

The commitment of the local community to the project is being demonstrated through the inaugural Eureka Poker Run, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Eureka Fairgrounds.

“This event is about bringing people together to support a project that will shape the future of our youngest learners,” said BGCTM chief development officer Colie Glenn.

Proceeds from the event, which features a scenic ride for motorcycles, cars and other vehicles, will directly benefit the ELC. The day-long festival will also feature a raffle, mobile auction, food trucks and the Cow Pie Drop.

Long-term vision

While the $3.2 million state grant guarantees the construction of the ELC portion, BGCTM’s long-term goal is to raise additional funds to complete the full original design. This includes a community room and a dedicated school-age space.

Completing this second phase would offer a meeting space for the community and expand programming by partner organizations, like 4-H and juvenile probation.