Start Small: Build Your Childcare Business
The following post was submitted by Copper Country Great Start Collaborative.
In response to the pressing need for accessible and high-quality childcare services in Houghton County, Copper Country Great Start Collaborative launched Start Small: Build Your Childcare Business, a groundbreaking mentoring program to support individuals interested in starting their own in-home childcare business.
Its commitment to quality and sustainability sets Start Small apart, providing a comprehensive one-on-one mentoring experience at no cost to participants. The program is ideal for parents seeking income while staying home with their children, early childhood professionals pursuing independence, and anyone passionate about establishing an in-home childcare business.
Key Program Features
Start Small is a free program that supports aspiring childcare entrepreneurs to build quality and sustainable programs.
An experienced local coach is available to provide one-on-one assistance in creating a business plan tailored to participants' individual situations.
Step-by-step licensing guidance is provided by the coach to help participants navigate the licensing process with ease and confidence, ensuring a smooth start to in-home childcare businesses.
Program participants will have access to potential funding through grants and small business loans to support new childcare businesses with start-up costs.
A supportive environment for childcare entrepreneurs will be built to foster collaboration and growth among programs.
Start Small will focus on learning sustainable business practices and contribute to the quality of early childcare experiences for children in Houghton County.
Start Small will be led by Abbey Carlson. Carlson has over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, including six years operating her in-home childcare provider. She draws on her extensive experience as an in-home childcare provider to guide participants through educational modules and the licensing process. Together, Carlson and the participants will work towards building successful, sustainable, and high-quality childcare businesses in Houghton County.
Houghton County has been experiencing a significant shortage of early childhood care and education slots, leaving over 600 children without access to licensed childcare programs. The impact on the local economy is evident, with challenges such as increased employee absences and tardiness, as the Houghton County Rural Child Care Innovation Project reported. A recent survey by the UP Early Childhood Education Taskforce showed that 30% of parents have had to leave the workforce, reduce hours, or turn down positions due to the childcare shortage.
Houghton County Commissioners recognized the impact of this shortage and the importance of building and expanding access to child care in the community. Quality childcare programs are essential for economic development, family well-being, and healthy child development. Houghton County Commissioners approved the initial funding for this project by allocating American Rescue Plan Act funding to support Start Small during its first year of operation.
Start Small aims to address this gap, providing a solution for individual entrepreneurs and contributing to the region's overall economic growth.
“By investing in high-quality early childhood programs, we strive to offer the best opportunities for children to grow and learn,” said Iola Brubaker, Director of the Copper Country Great Start Collaborative (CCGSC). The Copper Country Great Start Collaborative has been working with parents and community groups to develop ways to address the childcare shortage.
“Launching Start Small has been a community effort. Our collaborative partners, the Keweenaw Economic Development Association, Keweenaw Community Foundation, the Keweenaw Family Resource Center, and the Great Start to Quality UP Resource Center, have played important roles in helping us design, grow, and implement this project,” said Brubaker.
Join Start Small in making a difference by building a community of empowered childcare entrepreneurs who play a crucial role in shaping the future of Houghton County!
Contact
For more information about Start Small or to apply, please visit www.startsmallcoppercountry.org or contact Abbey Carlson at StartSmall@KFRCkids.org or call 906-482-9363.
About Copper Country Great Start Collaborative
The Copper Country Great Start Collaborative (CCGSC) is funded through Michigan’s Department of Education (MDE) Office of Great Start. CCGSC works to ensure that every child in Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties has a great start and is safe, healthy, and eager to succeed in school and life.