The Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center has announced a Childcare Accelerator Program, which includes training and grant funding for 10 childcare providers across Nebraska.
The providers are working through the Saturday training sessions. When the training is finished, Women’s Business Center Director Jessica Campos said they will have the funds to back up what they’ve learned.
“Upon completion, each one of our childcare providers does receive a $10,000 grant to go towards their growth of their business,” Campos said.
Grantees applied and were selected by committee.
“We wanted to see what they wanted to grow and how this program was going to actually help them grow as a business and entrepreneur childcare provider,” Campos said.
Five of the 10 childcare providers are from Grand Island and two are from Lexington. The others are located in Fremont, Kearney and Kenesaw.
Campos said many of the providers plan to expand transportation access, hire more staff, provide new early education curriculum, physically expand their centers and add more slots for children.
“We want them to continue to grow as a business owner as well as a childcare provider,” Campos said.
The Childcare Accelerator Program training time contributes to the childcare providers’ licensing hours. While Campos said training largely focuses on business planning, additional lessons on computer literacy, navigating state resources, tax preparation and grant preparation were also provided.
“It’s a learning experience,” Campos said. “With the childcare sector, we've noticed that there's so much training that they have to do in order to be in compliance within our state. However, the business aspect of it is a great opportunity for us to bring into the sector itself.”
Additionally, Spanish and Arabic translators help to translate the training materials.
“There's just a different level of understanding when it's brought to you in your language,” Campos said.
The Women’s Business Center received the grant funds through the Association of Women’s Business Centers and Stearns Bank -- a Minnesota-based bank that focuses on business banking and loans.
Campos said awards also were given to Women’s Business Centers in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., North Dakota, Minnesota and two in California.