Michelle Chavez waited years to fulfill her dream of opening a second childcare facility in Tucumcari, where families struggle to find services for their kids.
Chavez operates the Turquoise Child Development Center, the county’s only full-day, year-round center, which until now had a waiting list a year or more long. She has watched families make difficult decisions — like giving up careers or moving away from the Eastern New Mexico community — in order to care for their children.
But last week, Chavez opened a new facility capable of providing childcare to about 55 children. Chavez’s facilities can now serve a total of 95 children. Previously, she served around 40.
“It is amazing, and it is beautiful. The children absolutely love it,” she said in an interview.
The new facility, which cost $550,000 to complete, has three classrooms, a basketball court and a large playground. It was largely funded through a budding initiative known as the Child Care Facility Revolving Loan Fund, which provides low-interest loans to providers for constructing or expanding facilities in areas of New Mexico that are struggling to provide enough childcare seats for children.
Courtesy of Michelle Chavez
The launch of the new facility comes amid an effort to expand capacity in New Mexico’s universal childcare system, particularly in the state’s many areas with greater need. Quay County, for example, had a shortfall of 146 slots in 2024, according to a statewide gap analysis commissioned by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department and conducted by the nonprofit Low Income Investment Fund.
“In a community like Tucumcari, child care is what makes it possible for a parent to work and build a life for their family,” Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky wrote in a news release.
“This project shows what’s possible when the state actively collaborates with providers and invests in children and families. This partnership is a model for growing and sustaining quality child care in urban, rural, Tribal and frontier communities across New Mexico.”
The road to opening Chavez’s new facility was not straightforward — plans stalled for years amid challenges with contractors, uncertain funding and other issues before work finally started late last year.
Courtesy of Michelle Chavez
Even in the final stretch of remodeling the building, Chavez and her contractors faced challenges. The facility was originally supposed to open in early to mid-May, but delays in receiving construction materials caused weekslong delays, she said.
Now that the facility is finally open, Chavez said she can whittle away at her waiting list, which she said at one time had roughly 150 children, although dozens dropped off after moving or finding other options.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she said. “I’m overjoyed. I am deeply humbled.”
