Bethlehem daycare provider purchases building, plans expansion

A Bethlehem childcare provider is now the proud owner of the building she operates her service in.

Marquisha Fleetwood, founder and director of In Arms Reach Childcare Services LLC, has purchased the childcare center at 1411 Marvine Street in Bethlehem she has been running for two years.

Fleetwood had been leasing the day care, originally New Youngster Day Care, from owners Willie and Mary Smith who had put it on the market in 2019 because they wanted to retire. Fleetwood, who had run a daycare from her Allentown home, changed the name to In Arms Reach Childcare Services when she began leasing it. The daycare has space for 33 children ages 0-12 and is full.

Lehigh Financial Group LLC in Allentown arranged the financing for Fleetwood to purchase the childcare center and make her lifelong dream come true.

The acquisition closed on May 22.

The purchase is part of Fleetwood’s mission to “support community children and their families” and to provide them with “care that fosters their growth.”

The purchase of the building isn’t the end of her goals for the business. She said she hopes to be able to build two classrooms at the site and care for an additional 40 children within less than a year.

A local credit union provided the funding that enabled Fleetwood to purchase the day care.

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