Military families at Fort Knox are getting a new child development center.

It began with a conversation back in 2016, and since then, an elementary school was demolished to make room for the new construction.

We go to Laura Rogers at Fort Knox for today's groundbreaking.

The existing child development center here at Fort Knox was built back in the 1980s, and officials say they're excited to have a new facility to offer their military families.

It will serve more than 300 children from birth through six years old.

And aside from early childhood learning, it will also offer indoor recreation.

It's absolutely phenomenal for the community.

Our Child Development Center provides services to allow our soldiers on the installation to do their job for the Army by providing that world class child care.

So being able to bring this new facility, it's going to be modern.

We're going to have open play spaces.

We're going to have a giant activity room that's going to allow activity in the sunshine.

When the weather's not great, we're still going to be able to provide instruction to the kiddos.

This $33 million investment is just huge for our installation.

So we're really excited to bring it here.

It's the foundation.

It is the foundation of our society.

That foundation builds and builds character in our children for social, emotional life skills and equip them to be prepared for grade school.

Today marks a significant milestone for our Army families.

This CTC isn't just a building.

It's an investment in the future, a foundation upon which countless young leaders will grow and thrive.

Our Fort Knox family is consistent, demonstrate their dedication to our nation.

And their children deserve the very best.

Our military, our nation relies on you and this installation.

And Senator McConnell is proud to champion Fort Knox in Washington, D.C..

Senator Mitch McConnell helped secure $30 million in federal funding for the new CDC.

He was scheduled to speak here today at the groundbreaking, but his office says he was delayed by his work in Washington.

Now, this was also scheduled to be a 2027 project, but the timeline moved up a couple of years.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you.

Laura.

The new center is scheduled to be complete in about three years.