Boone County’s presiding commissioner expects construction of the Boone County Public Safety childcare center in Columbia to be finished by August.
Commissioner Kip Kendrick spoke to reporters Wednesday at the Boone County Sheriff’s office’s regional training center. A groundbreaking ceremony for the childcare center took place in April 2025. Presiding Commissioner Kendrick believes it’s the first purpose-built public safety childcare center in the nation. Once completed, the facility will make 24-hour, seven-day childcare available for first responders.
The state contributed about $2.5 million in funding to build the facility, which covered about half of the costs. Commissioner Kendrick and his colleagues note access to affordable childcare is especially difficult for first responders due to their unpredictable schedules and the limited hours of most child care centers.