On Wednesday, volunteers from a number of local businesses gathered at the brand new Great Bay Kids’ Company (GBKC) for the United Way Day of Caring, in an effort to put some final touches on the newly-minted non-profit child care center.

GBKC, which broke ground at Pease International Tradeport in June 2009 and opened officially in late January, required a few safety and storage adjustments in order to comply with state licensing. Among other landscaping projects, teams stationed indoors installed extensive shelving for the kitchen pantry, as well as bracing dozens of small bookshelves to prevent them from tipping over.

Many of the volunteers were members of the Green Alliance, a local “green business union” and individual discount co-op. Spearheaded by Business Partner Mike Grecco of Affordable Weatherization Solutions, the Green Alliance team included helping hands from sectors as varying as tee shirt retailers and electricians.

According to Grecco, the project was especially important given the licensing requirements that needed to be met. “The level of professionalism that ended up helping out was almost overwhelming,” explains Grecco. “Not only did we get a chance to give back to a community that’s given us all so much, but we fulfilled some pretty important goals for the Kids’ Company too.”

Micum Davis, owner of Cornerstone Tree Care, echoed Grecco’s enthusiasm: “When I first got wind of the project, it seemed like a great thing to be a part of,” said Davis. “And the fact that we’re all a part of the same organization and the same community made it even more positive and fun all around.”

Unbeknownst to many of the Green Alliance volunteers, GBKC actually boasted some impressive green credentials of its own, having installed a massive geothermal system – the first of its kind anywhere on Pease’s grounds -- courtesy of Weare-based Granite State Plumbing and Heating.

Cathy DeWees, Program Administrator at GBKC, was more than happy to have the help. “For a while there, I was really afraid that United Way wasn’t going to pick us,” recalls DeWees. “I thought I was going to have to go into the classrooms and put all the bookshelf braces on myself. But everything worked out wonderfully, and we’re excited to tie up these loose ends.”

Other businesses who participated included: American Eco-Thermal, The Green Tee, Scarponi Electric, Energy Audits Unlimited, Little Green Homes, and Ultra Geothermal.

United Way, a nationally recognized volunteer program, arranged for the Green Alliance volunteer team to work at the Great Bay Kids’ Company, a non-profit organization which provides early childhood education and enrichment programs for school-age children.

The Newington GBCK, built by Portsmouth-based Two International Group, also features preschools in both Exeter and Newmarket.