MONTEREY COUNTY — A Monterey County program is helping residents turn a need for childcare into an opportunity for business ownership, with training sessions underway and additional opportunities planned through the fall and winter.
The Nurture Small Home-Based Childcare Entrepreneurship Program, a partnership between the Monterey County Business Council, Nurture and the Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Initiative, is designed to help aspiring providers open licensed childcare businesses from their homes.
The $150,000 initiative is funded through the County of Monterey with resources from the American Rescue Plan Act. It focuses particularly on communities in South Monterey County, where the need for licensed childcare remains significant.
Participants receive professional training, one-on-one coaching and technical assistance as they work toward becoming licensed providers. Nurture, an Oakland-based nonprofit, delivers the core training through a bilingual, app-based learning platform over 12 weeks.
The program also offers financial support. Participants who successfully complete the training and obtain their state license can receive business grants to help them get their childcare operations started.
“This partnership represents a vital investment in our community’s future,” said Richard Vaughn, the County’s economic development manager. “By utilizing ARPA funds to foster new childcare businesses, we are not only creating jobs and businesses but also providing the essential support systems that allow working parents in Monterey County to participate in the local economy.”
The program is intended to address two needs at once: creating opportunities for new entrepreneurs while expanding the number of licensed childcare spaces available to local families.
“Four out of five young children in Monterey County do not have access to licensed childcare,” said Jennifer Brooks, CEO of Nurture. “Our bilingual app-based business training and one-on-one coaching are designed to remove the traditional barriers to entry for home-based childcare — and increase the number of licensed childcare spaces, so parents can work and children can thrive. We are excited to partner with MCBC to transform these dedicated individuals into successful, licensed business owners.”
Community outreach is being led by Bright Beginnings in partnership with Mamas Abogan, a community-based organization focused on expanding early childhood services. The grassroots effort is intended to reach potential providers who may not realize that operating a home-based childcare business is an option.
“Most families have faced the shortage of childcare, but most do not know that they can open their own childcare business,” said Sonja Koehler, director of the Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Initiative. “By inspiring new childcare providers, and by providing hands-on technical assistance with the Nurture app and navigating local resources, we not only launch critical new childcare services, but also help to build the relationships that will support them through the lifetime of their business. And that means better care for families and children.”
After participants complete the training and licensing process, the Monarch Small Business Development Center will provide additional business assistance to help new providers establish and grow their businesses.
“Monterey County Business Council is committed to supporting every corner of our County’s economy,” said Jeff Ruster, executive director of MCBC. “This program centers upon an inclusive approach and provides a clear pathway to business ownership and high-quality childcare.”
The program is open to aspiring childcare entrepreneurs in Monterey and San Benito counties, with bilingual assistance available in English and Spanish. The first sessions of the current program cycle began in July and August, with the next session scheduled to begin Nov. 11.
More information and applications are available at nurturebusiness.org/intros for English and nurturebusiness.org/intros-sp for Spanish. Prospective participants can also text or call 765-DAY-CARE.
