Rainbow Riders Child Care Center in Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center now open

20 Aug 2009

Rainbow Riders Administrator Kristi Snyder (center) and others cut the ribbon at the ceremony held Aug. 17.

Rainbow Riders Child Care Center held its opening celebration on Monday, Aug. 17 at the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

The Rainbow Riders Child Care Center was built to meet the growing demand for high-quality and affordable child care services for its employees, Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Foundation, and the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.

These entities partnered with Rainbow Riders Childcare Center of Blacksburg in order to expand child care services in the community and guarantee some of the new slots to families of Virginia Tech employees, employees of corporate research center companies, and employees of university-related corporations.

The 19,600-square-foot, multi-story facility located at 1800 Ramble Road, increased the amount of available child care slots for children six weeks to 12 years in the area by 246. Under the agreement between the child care provider and Virginia Tech, 60 percent of the slots were guaranteed for children of Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and graduate students; 12 percent were reserved for children of employees of persons working in companies based at Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center; 12 percent were reserved for additional partners; and the remaining balance was available for others in the New River Valley community.

Since 1986, Rainbow Riders Childcare Center has provided care for children ages six weeks to 12 years. To meet the educational and developmental needs of each child served, Rainbow Riders utilizes professional teaching techniques and programs and creative curriculum planning. The professional teaching staff cares for the children with respect and kindness to ensure that individuals are both challenged and nurtured. Families are considered partners in their child’s experience in the school and are involved in many different aspects of the program. Rainbow Riders is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, an example of the university’s contributions to regional and statewide economic vitality, houses 140 tenant companies in 24 buildings spread over 120 acres. The center’s tenant companies annually fund more than $1 million in research projects at the university.

Written by Megan Grubb. Grubb, of Wytheville, Va., received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in spring 2009.