Heather Wright/The Independent

Lambton Rural Childcare is moving into downtown Petrolia.

The Sarnia-based non-profit is moving into a former bank on Petrolia Line.

Scotia Bank announced it was closing the Petrolia branch in Oct. 2023 moving services for its members to Bright’s Grove in March 2024.

The Town of Petrolia made a deal for the historic building in the heart of the downtown for $200,000. Officials suggested renting out some of the space almost immediately.

For months, the town has been working with contractors to create space for a tenant but also to allow community groups to use a room in the back of the building. 

Some of the town’s historic artifacts will be housed there.

Sept. 22, councillors passed a bylaw which will see Lambton Rural Childcare move into the space in October. The organization helps staff child care centres in Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent and helps parents find care in home settings, centres or school-based centres.

Lambton Rural Childcare will pay rent of $2,100 a month generating about $25,200 a year in income for the town.