14th FTW breaks ground on new Child Development Center

Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander (center), joins Martha Mann, Child Development Center director; Lt. Col. Mike Dilda, 14th Mission Support Group Deputy commander; and Justin Murphy, Columbus Resident Engineer, Mobile District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Ben Logan, President of Carothers Construction, in breaking ground on the new CDC June 3. The $6.5 million, 24,400 foot facility will replace the current, under-sized child care facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jacob Corbin).

14th FTW breaks ground on new Child Development Center

Published June 3, 2009
By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 14th Flying Training Wing began another project to improve the lives of Airmen June 3 with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Child Development Center.

A $6.5 million dollar Military Construction project, the new CDC will accommodate almost three times as many children as the current one does.

The 24,400 square foot facility will replace the 1960's era child care facility and is expected to be completed in October 2010.

"Family is important," said Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, "and our children are obviously one of the most important things in our lives. (This facility) is going to allow our child care providers the opportunity to take care of our children in a state-of-the-art building."

Colonel Watkins added that the in addition to improved child-care space and improvements in the building, the new facility will feature improved energy efficiency and will continue the bases architectural transition to becoming the "showplace of the south."
The new CDC will be located near base housing, across from the Columbus Club.