North Port families looking for childcare closer to home could have two new options by next year, as the city makes recruiting early learning providers a stated priority.
A proposed Learning Experience center on Price Boulevard is under city review, and a YMCA early learning academy on Toledo Blade Boulevard is already under construction with a 2027 opening target, according to the Sun.
Development Services Director Alaina Ray said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 6, that the city's Economic Development team has made recruiting childcare and early learning providers a priority to support working families. Ray said connections made at a recent national development conference helped create the opportunity for the Learning Experience project, which she described as one of several efforts to expand childcare access in North Port.
Learning Experience on Price Boulevard
The Learning Experience, a national early education franchise serving children ages 6 weeks to 6 years, submitted plans for a 10,000-square-foot building on Price Boulevard. The site sits across from a new VA Clinic that broke ground in June. The project appears on the city's Current Development Map as "under review," with no timeline announced for a decision or construction start.
YMCA academy taking shape on Toledo Blade
The King Family YMCA Early Learning Academy broke ground in mid-May and is being built next to King Plastic, a North Port manufacturer that employs about 200 people. Once complete, the facility will serve up to 150 children, from 6 weeks old through pre-K.
King Plastic employees' children will get priority enrollment, but the academy will also accept general enrollment. The model mirrors the North Venice YMCA location built in 2018 with PGT Innovations, which serves about 90 children daily.
At the May 14 groundbreaking, King Plastic President Jeff King told a crowd of about 70: "It took a little longer than we thought, but hey we're here. This will make a real difference in North Port."
The entire North Port City Commission attended the ceremony, along with City Manager Jerome Fletcher and Sarasota County commissioners Ron Cutsinger and Mark Smith. The YMCA of Southwest Florida already serves 750 early learners across the region; the North Port academy would add 150 more.
What it means for families
Neither facility is open yet. The YMCA is expected to finish in 2027. No opening timeline has been announced for the Learning Experience center. Families interested in YMCA enrollment can watch for updates as construction progresses on Toledo Blade Boulevard.
