Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby led a groundbreaking ceremony May 12 celebrating the start of construction on the Chickasaw Nation Head Start, Senior Center and Community Center buildings in Tishomingo.

More than 200 Chickasaws, employees, local leaders and residents joined Gov. Anoatubby for the groundbreaking at 812 East 6th Street in Tishomingo.

“Today, we are here to celebrate improvements in the way we offer services to our citizens,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “This is a real milestone in our progress as a tribe, and our historic ties to Tishomingo make these milestones even more meaningful.”

These new facilities will be located near the Chickasaw Nation Health Clinic and Wellness Center, which will create a campus atmosphere.

“We are building these facilities in close proximity to the wellness center, health clinic and senior center to provide easier access and make it more convenient for our citizens to access these services,” said Gov. Anoatubby.

Senior Center
The 7,700 square-foot senior center will house an exercise room, craft room, computer room and safe room, along with a commercial grade kitchen and dining area.

The new community center will replace the existing facility on Ray Branum Road.

“People in this area have utilized the community center for a wide variety of events,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “While the existing facility has served its purpose, we believe it is time for an upgrade.”

Community Center
With 8,200 square-feet, the community center will feature a banquet room that will accommodate up to 150 people, as well as a full kitchen. The center will be equipped with a training room and an audio-visual system to support a wide variety of activities.

Head Start
“The Chickasaw Nation is a strong advocate for life-long learning,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “We believe our Head Start system does a great job of helping our young people prepare for their school years so they have a strong beginning for a lifetime of learning.”

The new 12,000 square-foot Head Start building will be more than four times the size of the current facility. It will include four classrooms, an indoor play room, safe room and a fenced outdoor playground.

The Head Start facility will also include a commercial kitchen and large dining room.