Kentucky Small Business Development Center in UK to help new childcare businesses across the state – NKyTribune

By Ryan Ferguson
University of Kentucky

The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has announced a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that will provide coaching and specialized training to existing and new small child care businesses throughout Kentucky.

Kentucky SBDC’s Childcare Initiative aims to provide technical assistance and training focused on the childcare sector. The goal is to create and implement new programs that promote the growth and sustainability of child care businesses, allowing these businesses to more effectively serve the Commonwealth’s children.

“The Kentucky SBDC is pleased to adopt and deploy our Childcare Initiative to benefit small businesses operating in the childcare sector across Kentucky,” said Kristina Joyce, Kentucky SBDC State Director. “With this support, the Kentucky SBDC is committed to providing targeted assistance to entrepreneurs in the child care sector.”

(NKyTribune file photo)

This initiative is designed to partner with key stakeholders in Kentucky’s childcare community, such as Kentucky Youth Advocates, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, Childcare Aware of Kentucky and the Family Childcare Network of Kentucky. These collaborations will enhance the economic well-being of the Commonwealth’s children, increasing the availability of essential child care services.

“We recognize the critical role that childcare services play in our communities, supporting both working parents and the development of young children. With this grant, we will not only strengthen the child care industry, but we will also strengthen Kentucky’s economy through the success of small businesses. We strive to provide Kentucky’s small child care businesses with the essential resources to help them grow and thrive,” Joyce added.

Ongoing efforts will focus on increasing the number of available childcare locations and supporting entrepreneurs in setting up new childcare businesses. Additionally, the initiative prioritizes improving the quality of current child care centers, with the goal of increasing preschool readiness and providing significant benefits to Kentucky’s children and their families.

The Kentucky SBDC Childcare Initiative will provide a variety of assistance to child care providers, including but not limited to: start-up support, financial management guidance, business and compliance consulting, marketing and enrollment strategies, training and professional development programs, resources for preschool education. , health and safety protocols and business skills enhancement services.