The structures often are built on the employer's land and some centers service more than one employer. Each center is staffed to care for 250 to 300 children per shift, says Seeberger. Tim Short of Studio One in St. Louis has been the lead architect for the design team while Rafael Construction is the general contractor in the west and southwest regions. Three companies have been used to build centers in the Midwest and Dallas. Seeberger says a regional contractor will be selected in the next month. Each center costs $3.2 million to $3.6 million, excluding land. Ground-breakings often coincide with announcements of the latest deal.

The Medical City Hospital of Dallas, the first Texas hospital to be signed, will have one of the largest facilities in the chain's portfolio. The hospital employs about 2,700 so the center will be licensed for a capacity of 330 children per shift. The center will be done in August if all goes well. According to the company Web site, contracts are pending for hospitals in Arlington, Austin, San Antonio and another in Las Vegas.

Earlier this week, Children's Choice had announced a contract signing with MGM Grand to build a center for its 8,000 workers and employees of New York-New York Hotel and Casino. The center, scheduled for an August delivery, will be "the first freestanding employee child development center" on the Las Vegas Strip, says Leslie Wulf, founder, president and CEO of Children's Choice.

MGM, in turn, has set up a scholarship foundation for employees who need financial assistance with child-care costs, according to William Hornbuckle, MGM Grand president and COO.

Children's Choice provides round-the-clock childcare for workers with non-traditional schedules, targeting the gaming and entertainment industry as well as health-care, telecommunications and manufacturing. The concept had been nearly five years in the making before the first grand opening, according to Seeberger.