LDG Development, Bezos Academy, Mayor Greenberg Celebrate Opening of Fourth Louisville Preschool

Louisville – Riverport location expands Bezos Academy’s local preschool seats to 280 – all offered at no cost to families served.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – LDG Development, Bezos Academy, and Mayor Craig Greenberg today celebrated the opening of Bezos Academy Louisville – Riverport. The preschool marks Bezos Academy’s third Louisville location opened in partnership with LDG Development and the Rita June Foundation, and fourth in the metro area overall. The new preschool is located on the campus of LDG’s Riverport Landings, an intergenerational affordable housing community that brings seniors, families, and supportive services together in one shared neighborhood.

The need for preschool access remains significant in Louisville. According to Metro United Way, 63% of Louisville-area 3- and 4-year-olds are not enrolled in preschool, and just 42.8% of children in Jefferson County enter kindergarten ready to learn. With the addition of Louisville –Riverport, Bezos Academy now offers 280 preschool seats, expanding access to early learning during the years that matter most for development.

“Over the past year, Louisville families have shown us just how much they value access to great preschool,” said Liz Swanby, Chief Schools Officer at Bezos Academy. “Demand here is higher than anywhere else we operate, with nearly three applications for every seat available. Opening Louisville – Riverport allows us to welcome more children and continue growing alongside the communities we serve.”

“I’m thrilled that 280 Louisville children now have access to high-quality early learning at no cost to their families,” said Mayor Greenberg. “Expanding access to early learning has been a top priority of my administration, and I’m grateful to Bezos Academy, LDG Development, and the Rita June Foundation for helping more children get the strong start they deserve.”

“We understand that improving access to quality early childhood education is essential to ensuring more children enter school prepared and ready to learn,” said Lisa Dischinger, co-founder of LDG Development and chair of the Rita June Foundation.  “The addition of Bezos Academy preschools is a game changer and a testament to what can happen when the community comes together to tackle an issue or challenge.”

Bezos Academy’s presence in Louisville is the result of years of collaboration between community leaders, public officials, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic partners. Bezos Academy Louisville – Fairdale was developed in partnership with Louisville Metro Government, while Louisville – Okolona, Louisville – Russell, and Louisville – Riverport were developed in partnership with LDG Development and the Rita June Foundation. To support the construction of the three LDG locations, the Rita June Foundation partnered with Louisville philanthropists to raise almost $8 million. Together, these partnerships have expanded access to preschool opportunities for Louisville families.

Bezos Academy offers full-day Montessori-inspired preschool programming designed to help children graduate ready to learn in kindergarten, and beyond. The organization hires and supports educators and provides everything children need during the school day, including meals and snacks.

All four preschools are fully enrolled for the 2026-2027 school year, following a lottery process. Families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level (approximately $132,000 annually for a family of four) with children ages 3–4 are eligible to apply. To learn more about eligibility or join a waitlist, visit Bezos Academy.

About LDG Development

LDG was founded more than 30 years ago based on their belief that everyone deserves a quality place to live.  Over the past several decades, the company has created more than 25,000 units across eight states including Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Ohio Tennessee and Texas. Founded and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, the company has more than 600 employees working to ensure LDG provides housing residents are proud to call home.

About Bezos Academy

Bezos Academy is a nonprofit organization operating a network of full-day preschools at no cost to families served. Through fully funded scholarships, Bezos Academy provides students with all necessary educational supplies and services to set each student up for success, including Montessori materials, books, arts and crafts, field trips and meals. Bezos Academy operates preschools across Arizona, Hawaii, Florida, Kentucky, Texas and Washington.