MT Child Care Business Connect Launches Mentorship Program

Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC), a program of Zero to Five Montana, is launching a new program to support the growth of child care in Montana. This hybrid mentorship-business accelerator targets new and expanding licensed/registered child care operations across the state, providing a 12-month, intensive framework to help business owners start or grow their licensed/registered child care business. The program is free, thanks to a grant from Montana DPHHS, and includes business resources, Early Childhood Project (ECP) compliant training, networking and support, and funds to support selected businesses.

Growing and sustaining a strong child care industry is crucial for the state economy and workforce. The U.S. Department of Labor released a February 2023 national employment report which showed both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons increased to 3.6 percent. These national statistics are reflected in the Montana workforce. The lack of licensed/registered quality child care throughout the state affects business growth as well as the ability to hire and maintain a full staff.

Most businesses in Montana (57%) indicated a shortage of affordable child care options in their community and that increasing access should be a priority (60%). Approximately 40% of businesses said the shortage was impacting their ability to recruit or retain qualified workers. The impact was higher (45%) for businesses with non-traditional hours.

By launching this mentorship program, MCCBC is actively working to fill in those statewide child care gaps, promote entrepreneurship, create higher wage career opportunities in the child care field, and set up small businesses for long-term, sustainable success. The successful completion of this project would create jobs in the child care industry as well as bolster the local workforce as parents will have access to reliable, licensed/registered child care and be able to go back to work.

“Many individuals do not get into child care thinking of themselves as an entrepreneur or business owner”, Rhonda Schwenke, Program Director of MCCBC said. “So to be able to shift that mindset and offer crucial business support and professional development, we will help child care owners stay in business or potentially expand to offer much-needed slots in their communities, as well as increasing the level of professionalism across the field.”

To be eligible to mentor a business, one must have experience in small business start-ups and operations (specific child care experience preferred but not required).

To be eligible to be a protégé and receive mentorship, one must be starting a new licensed/registered child care business in Montana (concept to first year of operations) or substantially growing an existing business.

Applications close April 10 and a kick-off event will be hosted in Billings during the first week of May. Visit childcarebusinessconnect.com to learn more and apply.