ROCHELLE — On Wednesday, Aug. 7, a ribbon cutting was held for the new Rochelle satellite office of 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) at 1201 S. 7th St.

4-C is a nonprofit agency serving Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, McHenry, Ogle and Whiteside counties. The 4-C mission is to promote children’s wellbeing by advocating for quality, affordable, accessible childcare. 4-C offers a childcare assistance program, a family enrichment program, childcare resource and referral, professional development assistance for providers, a child and adult food program and provider support consultants.

“We have been so welcomed and so warmed by Rochelle,” 4-C Executive Director Susan Petersen said. “We're excited to have a satellite office here in this part of our service area. We make sure children are in safe places. We make sure the teachers that children are working with every day are professionally trained and that they have professional development, support, and a place to come and talk with us. We want to be where families are. We're now a step closer to families who have barriers like transportation. We're so excited to be embraced by this community.”

Petersen said 4-C is looking forward to partnering with local agencies, the City of Rochelle, Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. The nonprofit wants to make sure children are supported so their educational trajectory is positive.

4-C works with childcare providers and teachers, and partners with families on the job of parenting.

“We make sure children and their voices are heard at tables where they're sometimes not invited,” Petersen said. “We advocate with elected officials and try to listen for voices and stories that are hard to hear. We want to encourage providers, families and community members to tell us what they need so we can improve. We're an excellent agency because of the staff you see. We’ve been providing this service for 52 years. We're very aware of representing the diversity of our communities. We have a board of directors that actively participates in the agency's plans. I can't tell you how excited we are to be in Rochelle and we look forward to the partnerships. Great things are going to happen.”

The ribbon cutting event was led by Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tricia Herrera, who said she’s excited that 4-C will have a local presence. 4-C has always served the area, but hasn’t had a local office in the past. 

“What is more important than our youth and its education and getting them ahead while they're young?” Herrera said. “If we want to have a great future, we want our youth to get what they need when they're young and provide those services. We thank you for choosing Rochelle. We're here to help. We know promotion for nonprofits is a big issue and we can help with that.”

Mayor John Bearrows spoke at the event as well. He and the city made efforts in recent years when Rochelle was without a daycare center to bring one back to town before the opening of Little Hubs Learning Center. 

“Our youth are our future,” Bearrows said. “This is another step to help them. I thought today about years ago when we had no childcare in Rochelle. We scrambled trying to make things happen and I'm happy to see how we've been able to achieve that within our community. It's important because kids are our future and for economic development and attracting and keeping businesses. Their workers have to have childcare. It's a double-edged sword and both edges are shined up real great now within our community. We appreciate that. Welcome to Rochelle.”