Community leaders, educators and health care officials gathered on Wednesday to cut the ribbon on the new Jennie Stuart Health Wing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Early Learning Center, celebrating a public–private partnership they say will expand child care access and strengthen the county’s workforce.
The renovated wing, funded by a $400,000 donation from Jennie Stuart Health, includes four new classrooms, upgraded resource space, and newly built restrooms. The project is the first phase of a larger expansion that will eventually add four more classrooms and two indoor gross motor rooms designed for all-weather play.
Principal Kim Lint said the upgrades will allow the center to significantly increase capacity. The first phase will serve about 72 children, with total enrollment expected to reach roughly 160 once the second phase is complete.
“For early learning, children must have at least 30 minutes of gross motor play twice a day,” Lint said. “When weather isn’t permitting, we need indoor spaces. This investment makes that possible.”
Lint stated that the center’s mission is not only child care but preparing young learners for kindergarten through structured play and social development. “They’re learning to walk in a line, sit on the carpet and listen to a story,” she said. “Anything that gets them away from electronics for most of the day helps prepare them for kindergarten.”
Superintendent Chris Bentzel credited the collaboration between Christian County Public Schools, the hospital, and local economic development leaders for bringing the project to life. He said the expansion reflects a wider push to address local child care shortages that impact families and employers.
“We have to work together and make Christian County a better place,” Bentzel said. “This is the new phase. The first phase opens four classrooms, and we’re not done yet.”
The partnership also guarantees child care spots for employees of Jennie Stuart Health, a benefit hospital leaders say will reduce barriers for essential workers who struggle to secure consistent child care.
Hospital board chair Leslie Carroll, who presented the check that funded the renovation, said the expansion represents “a miracle in action” and a commitment to strengthening the county’s families and workforce.
“High-quality early childhood education doesn’t just benefit students,” Carroll said. “It strengthens families, supports our workforce and builds the foundation for a healthier community.”
Jennie Stuart Health President and CEO Eric Lee said investing in early learning is no different from the hospital’s long-standing partnerships with Hopkinsville Community College aimed at supporting nursing and allied health programs.
“When I see these kids, I see future nurses, respiratory therapists, maybe even doctors,” Lee said. “The growth of this Early Learning Center is foundational to our community’s growth.”
Construction for the second phase will begin once enrollment numbers indicate the need, Lint said, estimating three to four months to complete the additional renovations once started.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Early Learning Center currently serves about 132 child care students and 160 preschoolers. With the expansion, leaders say they hope to meet growing demand countywide.
“This center is my labor of love,” Lint said. “These kiddos are part of my life. We are grateful for everything Jennie Stuart Health is helping provide for them.”
