The St. John’s Lutheran Community location of The Children’s Center, a child care and preschool provider, will close Oct. 17.

All care will be moved to the main location at 605 James Ave, said Kim Nelson, executive director of The Children’s Center. About 35 children attend the St. John’s site.

“Over the past six months the Albert Lea Children’s Center has seen a decline in workforce that has proper training and education,” Nelson said in a news release. “Because The Children’s Center is licensed through the Minnesota Department of Human Services, they are required to employ staff with specific training in early childhood education.”

As a result, The Children’s Center lacks employees to fill vacancies and needed to consolidate.

The decision was made by the nonprofit organization’s board of directors. The news release states the board hopes to reopen the St. John’s location if the workforce situation improves.

“The ultimate goal at the Children’s Center is to provide high quality of care for our children and families. Without a qualified workforce, unfortunately, we are not able to meet the needs of our children and families at the St. John’s location. It is with a heavy heart that we have to temporarily close this location,” Nelson said. “The children will receive the same quality of care at the James Avenue location like they did at the St. John’s location.”

In 2009, The Children’s Center closed its branch at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea. The move came as Riverland was changing its strategy for the campus.

The child care site was in the Gateway Building, which is now vacant and slated for demolition in mid-2017, if the funds are approved in 2016. The college at that time also hopes to build out its auto and diesel area, in addition to adding handicapped-accessible restrooms and a few other amenities.