In focus: Work at United Learning Center site begins in downtown Centralia

Work began Thursday on the downtown Centralia lot that will soon be home to the United Learning Center.

When completed, the 12,800-square-foot educational facility will be located on the northwest corner of North Pearl and Maple streets in an area that is currently a city parking lot.

Crews gated off the property and began initial site work on Thursday. The lot is no longer open for parking.

The United Learning Center is a joint project to build a new educational facility involving the City of Centralia, the United Way of Lewis County, the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, Cascade Community Health, Discover! Children’s Museum and the Bezos Academy.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 8, 2021, but delays in funding and other setbacks prevented construction from actually beginning.

A federal budget package passed in March included $4 million in funding for the project secured by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington. An additional $1.95 million was delivered through state funding secured by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia.

The Bezos Academy needs around 16 months to find and hire teachers and staff. Currently, the academy is hoping to have the United Learning Center fully staffed and open by September of 2025.

Once open, the United Learning Center will offer at least 80 children free early learning education opportunities. The children will be from low-income families.

For more information on the United Learning Center, visit https://www.lewiscountyuw.com/united-learning-center .