The U.S. Coast Guard announced a $30.5 million contract to create a new child development center at Base Almeda, Calif.
Base Alameda, located on Coast Guard Island in California, is one of the largest and most critical military hubs on the West Coast. It serves as the home port for multiple national security cutters and major commands and supports homeland security missions spanning the Pacific.
Child development centers are military-operated childcare facilities which provide accredited full-day and hourly care for children. These support the high-pressure demands of military life by removing workforce barriers.
USCG said in a Sept. 17 press release that they awarded the new contract on Sept. 10 to J.I. Garcia of Fresno, Calif., to build the facility that will support military families at the base.
“This project is an investment in our people, our families and our readiness,” said Capt. Joseph Graham, commander, Coast Guard Base Alameda, in a statement.
Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Child Development Center ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 15, 2026.
“By expanding access to safe, reliable child care at Base Alameda, we are helping remove barriers for our workforce and ensuring Coast Guard members can stay focused on the missions our nation depends on,” Graham added.
The contract award comes as the USCG seeks “to increase and enhance child care services for the workforce by building and recapitalizing child development centers,” the service said.
What Amenities Will the New Center Have?
The new center will increase capacity from 68 to 126 spaces for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, including a 7,200 square-foot outdoor play area.
The center will also include child care activity rooms, outdoor storage, an administrative office, a commercial kitchen and a gathering area.
There will also be new pavement, sidewalks, playgrounds, windows, finishes and furnishings, as well as updated utilities, new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and a video surveillance system.
The Fiscal Year 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funded the contract and USCG said they expect that the project will be completed in November 2028.
This new funding mechanism follows the award of other contracts for similar projects.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a $32.5 million contract for facilities in Base Elizabeth City, N.C., in April 2026. The 46,487-square-foot complex will create classrooms and outdoor play areas for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old.
An $81.8 million contract approved in May 2026 for Base Kodiak, Alaska, funded the construction of 30 new family housing units and a child development center.
Overall, the Department of Defense (DOD) operates the largest employer-sponsored child care network in the country, which served approximately 171,000 children in the past fiscal year.
However, they have warned that there is a shortage of child care services in the country because of a lack of physical space and difficulties in retaining appropriate staff.