East Savannah United Sets December 6 Opening for $10 Million Early Childhood Center

East Savannah United will open its Early Childhood Learning Center in Hitch Village on December 6, the organization announced. The 20,000-square-foot facility is expected to serve 144 children from six weeks to four years old, and construction cost $10 million. Yahoo published the announcement.

East Savannah United's Hitch Village Center Details

The opening will coincide with a ribbon cutting that is open to the public, and East Savannah United is encouraging east side Savannah residents to attend. The celebration starts at 3:30 p.m., with the formal program beginning at 4 p.m. and featuring remarks and guided tours.

"This is about so much more than opening a beautiful new building," said Derek Mallow, executive director and CEO of East Savannah United. "It's an investment in our children's futures, in working families, and in the long-term strength of our community."

The center will have 11 classrooms. East Savannah United will provide organizational oversight, while 3E Collective will be the daily operator providing early education. The site at 1101 East Perry Lane is also expected to house a new Hitch Village Library.

"High-quality early education gives children a stronger start while helping parents pursue employment and educational opportunities," Mallow said. "We're enormously grateful for the public investment and community partnerships that have made this possible."

The grand opening comes two years after the December 2024 groundbreaking. East Savannah United is a nonprofit under the national Purpose Built Communities Network and the first organization in Savannah in that network, focused on revitalizing the city's east side. The project's construction was supported by Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenues designated by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.

East Savannah United's Funding and Housing Record

According to akta.pro company records, East Savannah United launched the Early Learning Center backed by $8.25 million in SPLOST funding, adding an early-childhood asset to its cradle-to-college education pipeline. The same records list $8.25 million in SPLOST and governmental funding committed to the Learning Center and children's library. The records also describe a 2023 partnership with the Housing Authority of Savannah to develop up to 600 mixed-income apartments, with the authority having already expended over $70 million on apartment development.

East Savannah United's December 6 Program

The December 6 event begins at 3:30 p.m., with the formal program at 4 p.m. and guided tours of the new facility. The center is located at 1101 East Perry Lane in the Hitch Village Neighborhood.