City leaders announced a multimillion-dollar gift Tuesday from the James Graham Brown Foundation for the Thrive by 5 program.
It comes as the University of Louisville ends its early childhood education program.
The nonprofit partners with the university's College of Education and Human Development.
The center is unlike any other in Louisville. It is intergenerational, offering children and seniors opportunities to engage together.
The summer program helps ease children's fears about starting school for the first time.
Governor Andy Beshear has launched the "Pre-K for All" initiative in Kentucky with Louisville being the first city to support it.
The old Bishop David apartments on Dixie Highway are being renovated to accommodate the new Holy Cross Early Childhood Center.
Louisville is ramping up efforts to provide quality early childhood education to every family in the city.
The group will follow guidelines and recommendations from the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Crews broke ground Monday morning on a tuition-free, full-day preschool in Louisville's Russell neighborhood.