Recent Projects
Child Development Centers
for the Military Worldwide

Transporting and Installing at Child Development Centers Throughout the World

Throughout the world, Child Development Centers are being created for the US Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command (FMWRC).

Clients in 2008 and 2009 include child development or youth centers in 17 military facilities. Locations include:

• Oceana Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA
• Whiteman Air Base, Sedalia, MO
• Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX
• Naval Weapons Station, Newport News, VA
• Grafenwoehr Air Base, Grafenwoehr, Germany
• Fort Myer Army Base, Fort Myer, VA
• Camp Lejune, Jacksonville, NC
• Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL
• Fort Drum, Fort Drum, NY 
• Detroit Arsenal, Warren, MI
• Fort Polk, Fort Polk, LA

We have been providing turn-key operations for the military, private and public schools throughout the country, with astounding customer satisfaction.

The Contracting Officer for Grafenwoehr Air Base wrote, " First, I just have to tell you how pleased I am with the quality and speed of the service from MMI. I'm amazed and grateful that you were able to get the furniture here and assembled in such a short time. "In my years of government service, I've never had such a completely positive experience with a contractor. Thank you for everything you did to make things go so smoothly."  See more customer comments here.

Naval Base Gets Child Center

In November 2006, Oceana Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA was about to open its new Child Development Center. Construction was complete and the Navy needed to have 23 classrooms completely furnished before classes could begin. Each room required assembly of multiple pieces of furniture and equipment and installation on site. The entire project had to be done in five days. MMI completed the project in 3 1/2 days.

The sturdy, durable maple furniture had been purchased from Community Products, an approved military vendor. The custom-built children's furniture is known for its flexibility and strength under the rugged use of preschoolers.

Contracted by the US Navy for this project, Community Playthings called on MMI to do turnkey project management including delivery, assembly, installation and project management, there in Norfolk. MMI has built a 20+ year reputation for doing such projects at military bases in Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, the United States and elsewhere.

Mini-sized desks, chairs and nursery gym equipment will serve preschool and kindergarten-aged children of Navy personnel stationed at Oceana. The new structure had 23 classrooms, each of which needed to be equipped.

Once the furniture was delivered onsite, there were very specific instructions to be followed to assemble each piece to rigid safety and security standards. The project was managed for MMI by Sales and Project Manager Brian Hoffman, under the direction of both Navy Lt. Daniel Lutz and Community Playthings Logistic Manager, Ernie Hofer.

Complex advance work was meticulously done so that assembly and installation could begin as truck deliveries began. Not a minute could be lost.

Repeating the experience that has earned MMI the trust of military lodging personnel throughout the world, MMI finished the job ahead of schedule, on budget and with the complete satisfaction of both Community Playthings and the Navy.

Somewhere in Norfolk, little tykes are learning their alphabet, aided by the professionals at Material Management International, Inc.

Army Cuts ribbon at Largest Child Development Center

It was quite a celebration when the Department of Defense officially opened their largest child development facility in the world. The event took place at Fort Myer in Northern Virginia, near the Pentagon. Without official recognition, MMI was an important part of the whole process, behind the scenes.

Garrison Commander Colonel Laura J. Richardson introduced the facility at the ribbon cutting. It is 50,000 square feet with three wings, 28 rooms, three playgrounds and a multi-purpose room. The center has space for 438 children.

MMI had the contract for transporting all of the furniture and equipment for the Center and installing it onsite. The pieces were manufactured by Community Playthings in Chester, New York and moved to the site in boxes. Once at Fort Myer, each child-size component was put together by hand, by a member of the MMI installation crew. Installation follows strict standards set by the manufacturer for safety and security.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, General Richard A. Cody, Army vice chief of staff, stated, "I came here to say thank you to everyone who has made possible this tangible symbol of our commitment, not just to our soldiers, but to our soldiers' families."