Staff reports
Beaufort Memorial officials teamed up Friday morning with Hobbit Hill Preschools owner and State Rep. Shannon Erickson, Beaufort mayor Phil Cromer, Port Royal mayor Kevin Phillips and representatives from the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the relocation of hospital’s childcare center to a new, on-site facility.
The Beaufort Memorial Learning Center, an employer-subsidized childcare program offered in partnership with Hobbit Hill Preschools began as a response to COVID-driven school closures and virtual learning schedules, and has evolved to meet the ongoing need that employees have for childcare.
The state-licensed center opened in September 2020 in an existing facility on Lady’s Island, and the hospital broke ground on the new freestanding facility on its main campus in March 2024. Construction wrapped up this summer, and the program moved into its new home.
“When COVID hit, obviously everyone went home except for hospitals and health care workers. We all came to work – and then some,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said. “We had to do this. We talk a lot about how access in Beaufort is tough for health care, but it’s probably even tougher for childcare. This is a great step in addressing that issue.”
As the organization continues its expansion of health care access in the southern part of the county, Baxley said, Beaufort Memorial has plans to develop a second childcare facility for its employees in the Okatie area.
