Staff report
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) has announced that Northern Kentucky’s Learning Grove has been entrusted with the operations of the Farmer Family Foundation Early Learning Center at the Findlay Community Hub in North Over-the-Rhine.
Learning Grove, a pillar of early childhood education across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, is renowned for its highly coveted, Ohio 5-STAR rated preschool classrooms. It will operate the early learning center, serving children from six weeks through five years old. Learning Grove’s research-backed curriculum focuses on setting up all youth for lifelong cognitive and social success.
In partnership with the City of Cincinnati, 3CDC announced that construction on the facility is now 75% complete, keeping the project on schedule to open its doors to the public in January 2027.
The $48 million, 60,000 square-foot community center and 8,400 square-foot early learning childcare center are a crucial investment north of Liberty Street. 3CDC will maintain oversight of the City owned facility.
3CDC also named TriHealth as a partner in the enterprise.
“This landmark investment by the City, 3CDC and our partners has the chance to catalyze real, significant vibrancy in North OTR. Every community deserves access to great services and great facilities, and with TriHealth and Learning Grove joining the team, we’re on the path to making it happen,” said Mayor Aftab Pureval.
TriHealth, one of Greater Cincinnati’s most respected health networks, will step in as the day-to-day manager of the recreation and wellness spaces. TriHealth brings an impressive track record of managing community wellness. TriHealth will apply its clinical and corporate operational excellence to activate the Hub’s fitness facilities, indoor aquatics center, gymnasium, roller skating rink, and indoor running track.
“Every child deserves a strong start, and we know that expanding access to quality early learning is essential for children, their families, and our communities,” said Patti Gleason, Chief Program Officer at Learning Grove. “We are proud to partner with 3CDC, the City, Tri-Health and the OTR community to open this new facility at the Findlay Community Hub, bringing our early childhood programming to local families, and addressing a vital need in the neighborhood.”
To ensure the facility’s mission of equitable access, membership plans will be modeled after Ziegler Park’s successful “Everybody In” initiative. The Hub will feature an income-based sliding scale to guarantee that every resident, regardless of socioeconomic background, enjoys full access to the Hub’s facilities.
Members of the community who are interested in securing memberships or inquiring about early childhood care placement can now visit FindlayHub.org to submit information requests.