A Deauville preschool for the employees of Anadarko, Chevron and EOG is expected to open in early 2019. It will serve about 240 children.

Three oil and gas producers that help dominate Permian Basin activity have banded together to establish a new preschool to serve their employees.

Anadarko Petroleum, Chevron USA and EOG Resources are partnering with Primrose Schools to open Primrose School of Midland at Westridge.

With the iron skeleton of Anadarko Petroleum's new regional headquarters in the background, ground was broken recently at 6100 Deauville Blvd. for the school, just across from Chevron and not too far from EOG's campus south of the Scharbauer Sports Complex.

"I was amazed to find out how difficult it is to find child care in Midland," said Lou Ann McLaughlin, who will own the franchise with her husband, Michael.

"Nothing is harder than a new mom going off to work and leaving her children," she told local news outlet the Midland Reporter-Telegram after the groundbreaking. "We want to reassure them their children are safe."

The facility, which is open exclusively to the companies' employees, is expected to open in early 2019. It will serve about 240 children.

McLaughlin said she is in the process of hiring teachers and wants to hire locally. She expects to hire about 75 teachers and plans to recruit a number of staff from Midland College.

Being within walking distance of Chevron and Anadarko and a brief drive from EOG, she said moms and dads can come to the school for lunch.

McLaughlin said geologists and engineers employed at the three companies can come to the school and give presentations on rocks, energy and other related subjects.

Greg Germani, Central Area area manager for Chevron, said his company has "talented individuals with a passion to teach."

He said his company's staff is very excited about the new school, which he said will serve not only the children of Chevron employees but grandchildren as well.

He agreed with McLaughlin's observation that offering early education and child care is a significant recruitment and retaining tool for young professionals and their young families.

"For Midland, with the growth that's going on, one of the big needs in Midland is child care," Germani said.

"EOG Resources is committed to ensuring the quality of life for our employees who live and work in the community," the company said in a statement to the newspaper.

The school at Westridge will be the second one in Midland operated by Primrose Schools.

img: anadarko.com