Horizon Education Centers breaks ground on Sandusky child care center for about 180 children

Horizon Education Centers, a Cleveland-area child care provider, has broken ground on a center at 1625 Cleveland Road in Sandusky that will care for about 180 children ages 18 months to 12 years.

Horizon, which has run child care programs since 1978, said the center is set to open in June 2027. In a reply on Facebook, Horizon said summer camp registration will start in February 2027.

What the center will offer

According to Horizon's website and its groundbreaking announcement, the center will have:

• Child care, preschool, before- and after-school care, and summer camp
• Hours from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
• Breakfast, lunch and snacks, and transportation to and from school for school-age children
• Playgrounds, a splash pad and an outdoor classroom

Horizon described the center as Gold-rated. It also said it will accept county child care vouchers and state child care assistance.

Who paid for it

Horizon credited donations from the Mylander Foundation, the DORN Foundation and the Erie County Community Foundation. The Greater Sandusky Partnership also thanked the Schlink Foundation and Erie County.

The city of Sandusky supported the project through its Economic Development Assistance Program. Neither the city nor Horizon has said how much the city contributed or what the center will cost to build.

Why it matters

Child care in the region falls short of demand. The Greater Sandusky Partnership pointed to Child Care Resource Center data showing that in 2022, capacity in Erie, Huron and Ottawa counties met only a fraction of the potential need. Parents who can't find care often can't take a job, which makes it a workforce problem for local employers as well as a family one.

Families can call Horizon at 440-779-1930 or reserve a spot online.

Sources: Horizon Education Centers, Sandusky center; City of Sandusky on Facebook