New programs to help develop child care entrepreneurs

May 6, 2024

Prospective child care business owners are encouraged to sign up for new programs designed for entrepreneurs in their field.

A weekend-long business boot camp and 10-week CO.STARTERS business accelerator will be hosted by Startup Sioux Falls, with additional multilingual programming from LSS.

Focus groups earlier this year “emphasized several roadblocks to starting a child care business, including startup costs and operating expenses, lack of guidance and a disconnect between the community and parents’ expectations and the realities of child care services,” said Sara Lum, vice president at Startup Sioux Falls.

“Additionally, participants expressed the misconception of child care workers as babysitters, which is detrimental to morale and the profession.”

At LSS, “focus group sessions confirmed the strong interest of refugee and immigrant communities to open in-home day cares and the value of training and support to prepare multilingual providers with varying levels of English fluency to get registered and licensed,” LSS education program coordinator Laura Smith-Hill said.

“The coalition has used this feedback from the community to inform the strategic activities of the implementation grant proposal.”

Supported by a $284,000 implementation grant from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development funded through federal pandemic-related relief money, the partnership includes:

• Startup Sioux Falls.
• Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota.
• Helpline Center.
• Sioux Falls Thrive/Childcare Collaborative.
• City of Sioux Falls.
• Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

The programming is free and aims to simplify the process of starting and operating a child care business, Lum said. The weekend and 10-week programs are tailored for aspiring in-home providers, and will be delivered in partnership with SD CEO East.

“Additionally, participants will have access to a child care business entrepreneur-in-residence to guide them as they reach roadblocks,” Lum said. “A Getting Started Guide will also be developed, containing specific information and steps relevant to starting a child care business.”

It’s designed for those who:

• Have been thinking of starting a child care business and don’t know how to begin.
• Are a new child care business owner wanting to ensure you’re set up for success.
• Are running a small child care business but are not sure if you’ve been doing it “right.”

LSS also will enhance its 10-week Introduction to Childcare Services curriculum to include the support necessary to pass the required Level 1 Orientation for child care providers, CPR and first-aid training offered through Sanford Children’s Hospital. The second phase, in partnership with Startup Sioux Falls, will be a 10-week multilingual CO.STARTERS business accelerator boot camp, with guest speakers providing insight on various elements of the child care field.

“Participants will learn crucial content for becoming a day care founder. Through classroom instruction, mentorship and connections from community partners and experienced day care providers, participants will both complete the requirements for state licensure and city registration and (gain) the information and contacts needed to successfully open and maintain a family-based day care,” Smith-Hill said.

“These building blocks will also support those who aspire to open a child care center in the future. Upon successful completion of these requirements, participants will also have opportunity to apply for funding towards their startup costs.”

During the planning phase of the program, LSS collected interest from 75 individuals from 14 countries. In April, LSS scheduled 53 individuals for registration appointments. As of May 1, 45 participants have been enrolled and begun their coursework.

Multilingual learners of English can call LSS at 605-731-2000 or contact the organization by text at 605-403-7813.

Startup Sioux Falls also plans to offer startup funding through the grant to program participants, though the amount hasn’t been determined.

To learn about the programming and sign up, click here.

Additionally, Startup Sioux Falls aims to encourage a peer learning network to “enable the exchange of insights and experiences,” Lum said.

“We seek to build connections amongst child care business owners through hosting events and programs specifically serving child care founders.”

That includes a Startup Sunrise event June 5 featuring two child care founders. To learn more, click here.