YMCA buys child care center on Edinboro campus of Pennsylvania Western University

EDINBORO — A child care center on the Edinboro campus of Pennsylvania Western University now belongs to the YMCA of Greater Erie.

The YMCA has operated the center at 301 Darrow Road as its Early Learning University for almost two decades. It previously leased the building from Edinboro University Services Inc. and bought it April 24 for $450,000.

"When the building came up for sale we were able to purchase it to maintain our center there," YMCA spokeswoman Tammy Roche said.

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Edinboro University Services Inc. is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1963 to support the university and its students. USI, as it is known, manages the campus bookstore and operates a copy center that provides print services to university departments. The corporation additionally acquired property and for a time provided day care services for community children and the children of university employees.

Fees for the services fund student scholarships and university projects.

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The 7,772-square-foot Early Learning University was built in 2004 and is on 2.7 acres, according to Erie County property records. It's one of four YMCA facilities providing infant and toddler care, according to the organization's website.

Edinboro education students work with staff at the Edinboro center, Roche said.

"Many of the university's students have been able to complete their education requirements in partnership with the Early Learning University. We've had a good collaboration with the university for many years," Roche said.

Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: YMCA of Erie buys child care center at PennWest's Edinboro campus