About u4CC

WHO WE ARE

We believe all children deserve a strong start.

United 4 Child Care (U4CC) will provide high-quality, affordable, and flexible child care for working families at multiple locations across Southern Maine.

United 4 Child Care collaborates with local businesses to address the urgent child care accessibility and affordability challenges faced by Southern ME employees, especially those who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed (ALICE).

Our mission is to increase access to affordable, high-quality child care slots to ensure students are prepared for school, and caregivers can work and therefore achieve greater financial stability. Additionally, we strive to implement sustainable workforce solutions that support existing and aspiring child care providers and foster the growth of early childhood education professionals.

U4CC is powered by United Way of Southern Maine and made possible with generous support from local organizations, including Hannaford, Maine Beer Company, Maine Community Bank, MaineHealth, M&T Bank, Northern Light Heath, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Unum, and Zachau Construction.

The challenge

In Southern Maine, lack of access to child care continues to create major workforce challenges. There are not enough slots and ALICE families cannot afford the high cost. A 2023 United Way of Southern Maine survey revealed that lack of child care was the primary obstacle to employment for 85% of households where at least one adult is not working.

High-quality, accessible child care allows parents to pursue careers and education and provides children with crucial cognitive and social development. In short, child care is the foundation for a thriving economy and community.

Child care providers are facing their own challenges. Early educators are often ALICE themselves and struggle to achieve financial security, leading many to pursue other career paths. As a result, child care providers operating on razor-thin margins cannot hire enough staff to meet community needs.

The solution

United Way of Southern Maine saw how these challenges were impacting the community and brought the right people together to find a solution. In 2023, United Way staff experts, local business leaders, community partners, and local experts met. Together, they imagined a thriving community where every family had access to child care—and they decided to make it a reality.

In 2025, that vision is becoming a reality. Three initial child care locations are in the works—planned for Biddeford, South Portland, and Freeport—with the first location opening in fall 2025.

Check back in spring 2025 for more information.