story & photos
by Jessica Warzeniak
On Friday, October 3rd, Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc. (TVCCA) broke ground for extensive renovations at the Child Development Center on Bayonet Street, New London.
“Tomorrow’s world will be shaped by what we teach our children,” said Deborah Monahan, Executive Director, TVCCA. “If a child arrives at that kindergarten door ready to learn, then we have been successful.”
Part of being successful is having a facility that promotes learning, and the new extension will do just that. “This will be a beautiful, state-of-the-art, healthy and safe early childhood learning center,” said Cathleen McCarty, Chair, TVCCA’s Capital Campaign.
Plans for the renovation include reconfiguration of 
space, modernization of classrooms and new playgrounds. In addition to teaching facilities, the Child Development Center will also have a school based health clinic.
CT Health and Education Facilities Authority (CHEFA) provided a bond for $2.3 million to renovate and expand the facility. TVCCA estimates it will require another $500,000 to successfully complete all the renovations and will be launching a capital campaign this fall.
Dime Bank, one of the initial supporters of TVCCA’S vision to expand the Bayonet Street Child Development Center, donated $30,000 to supports TVCCA’s mission to better its community and provide a quality education to children.
TVCCA is a private, non-profit corporation that has been providing social services to the region’s economically and otherwise disadvantaged citizens of New London County for over 40 years. The organization’s 28 programs currently reach approximately 24,000 eligible clients annually. TVCCA is well recognized as a community leader in advocating for and meeting the needs of the region’s poor.
