SSM Health St. Francis Hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for a new daycare and early learning facility in Maryville.

According to a news release, Frank Grispino, vice president of the SSM Health operations, spoke on the history of the hospital and the background of the child care center along with the need for a new facility. In Maryville alone, he said there are 562 children under the age of 5 for only 187 openings available for early childhood education at licensed facilities. Of the 187 slots, 150 are allocated for children ages 3 to 5, leaving only 37 for children ages birth to 3 years.

The new 14,200 square foot SSM Health Preschool and Child Care Center will double the capacity of the current building and could serve up to 136 children. The space includes 11 classrooms along with a gross motor activity room that will give children the opportunity for movement and play when the weather does not allow the kids to go outside.

The $2.7 million project is nearly 70% funded through grants, donations and fundraising projects.

Rita Miller, Community Relations & Development Manager with SSM Health said after the official groundbreaking by leadership and dignitaries, the ones who will be benefiting from the new facility got to do, a ‘little groundbreaking’ of their own.

Early Head Start through Community Services, Inc. will open an early learning program for children birth to age 3 in the center.

Construction is set to begin September 11.