Southeast Missouri State University
06/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/05/2026 17:38
SEMO, Sikeston Celebrate Opening of New Child Care Center
Southeast Missouri State University, Bootheel Progress With Partnership, and community leaders gathered this week to celebrate the opening of Future Leaders Learning Academy at SEMO's Sikeston Regional Campus.
The new center is the result of a collaborative effort to address a documented shortage of child care in the region and support local workforce needs. Through the partnership, a previously unused child care facility on SEMO's campus has reopened and will provide care for as many as 60 children from Sikeston and surrounding communities.
"The way this project has come together makes me incredibly proud," said Marcie Lawson, president and CEO of Bootheel Progress With Partnership. "When a community comes together to solve a problem, there's very little we can't accomplish."
The project was made possible through cooperation among SEMO, Bootheel Progress With Partnership, local entrepreneur Tiffany Harris, and regional stakeholders who worked together to identify solutions to child care challenges facing families and employers.
"As I toured the Bootheel and met with community leaders last summer, I heard repeatedly that they want SEMO to be a presence in their community," said SEMO President Dr. Brad Hodson. "We're proud to be part of these communities, we're going to be fierce advocates for them, and we're going to find ways to partner that provide benefits for SEMO students and contribute to the economic development of the region."
In addition to increasing child care capacity in the region, the center creates opportunities for future collaboration and experiential learning while contributing to the economic growth and vitality of southeast Missouri.
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