UT to issue P3 request for 150‑child childcare center at Cherokee Mills Complex

Summary

The State Building Commission authorized the University of Tennessee to issue a request for proposals for a public‑private partnership to build a childcare center in the Cherokee Mills Complex in Knoxville to serve university employees and students; the presenter said the center would serve about 150 children and be managed by a third party.

The University of Tennessee received commission approval to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a public‑private partnership to develop a childcare center at the Cherokee Mills Complex in Knoxville.

"This facility will be managed by a third party, using some of our space," President Randy Boyd said. "So it'll be convenient to our staff, and I believe that it will hold about a hundred Hundred and 50."

Boyd framed the project as a response to an area shortage of childcare that affects faculty and staff. A motion to issue the RFP for a P3 childcare center was moved and seconded; with no further discussion the commission approved the request by voice vote.

The transcript records the approval by voice; no roll‑call tally appeared in the record. The project will return to the commission as procurement advances and proposals are evaluated.