FORTEC Completes Vernon Hills Early Education Center

VERNON HILLS, IL (September 21, 2026) – Fortec, a national leader in early education development and investment, today announced the opening of The Nest Schools-Vernon Hills, which welcomed its first students following a $5 million investment in the acquisition and redevelopment of a former ambulance warehouse. Located at 401 W. Sullivan Drive in Vernon Hills, a suburb north of Chicago, the new early education center will serve up to 209 students and create 35 jobs in the Lake County community.

Fortec acquired the property for $1.7 million in September 2025 and invested approximately $3 million in construction, along with roughly $300,000 in closing and due diligence costs. The completed redevelopment includes a comprehensive interior reconfiguration designed specifically for childcare use. The school features 11 age-grouped classrooms, a new 11,834-square-foot outdoor playground featuring K-Play equipment, and dedicated play surfaces designed for active learning and recreation. The project also includes a complete replacement of the building's core systems, including new high-efficiency HVAC, electrical and irrigation systems, water-efficient plumbing and underground drainage upgrades. Safety enhancements include a new fire alarm and sprinkler system and upgraded access-control security infrastructure.

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The project represents Fortec's fourth collaboration with The Nest Schools, a leading early childhood education provider with more than 50 locations nationwide.

"High-quality early education is essential infrastructure, and in communities like Vernon Hills, demand continues to outpace supply," said Pablo Barreiro, chairman of Fortec. "By transforming underutilized properties into purpose-built learning environments and partnering with an operator like The Nest Schools, we're helping create the capacity families need while investing in the long-term growth of the community."

"Partnering with Fortec allows us to bring early childhood education to communities where families are actively looking for a partner in their children's most formative years and Vernon Hills is exactly that kind of community," said Jessica Van Hoose, CEO of The Nest Schools. "This is our latest step in growing our presence across Illinois, and we're proud to do it alongside a development partner who shares our belief that the spaces where children spend their earliest years deserve real investment and real intention."

Vernon Hills is a family-dense community with more than 7,100 children under age 9 residing within a three-mile radius of the school.

The project reflects Fortec's broader strategy of redeveloping underutilized properties into purpose-built educational facilities that help communities meet growing demand for early childhood education. According to a recent Center for American Progress report, 46% of young children in the United States live in "child care deserts," where licensed childcare slots fall far short of local demand.

Interested families can learn more about enrolling by visiting TheNestSchool.com.

About Fortec

Fortec, a national leader in early childhood education development projects and investment, is dedicated to transforming urban neighborhoods and fostering community growth. With over 30 years of combined expertise in financing, acquisitions, sales, and developing and managing real estate assets, Fortec delivers early education projects that yield high returns for its investors while positively impacting the community. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Fortec was recognized in 2025 as one of the South Florida Business Journal's fastest-growing private companies, setting the benchmark for innovation and early education real estate development. The company has developed over 398,800 square feet of early education projects across nearly 40 projects in 15 states nationwide. Since 2020, Fortec has successfully built and sold over $270 million in early education projects, creating innovative spaces that enrich lives through learning and connection. For more information, visit fortecnow.com and follow Fortec on Instagram, Facebook and X.