As with other business development projects, financial institutions can play a critical role by providing capital to foster the start-up and expansion of child care enterprises. Unique partnerships with local economic development organizations and other investors provide great opportunities to support innovative solutions to meet local child care needs. Do your products and services support this critical sector?
What can we do to help?
Financing and Technical Assistance
Offer flexible, creative financing and technical assistance to support the creation, expansion, transition and retention of child care programs (home-based or center-based). Partner with other funders to develop financing packages that reflect the unique nature of child care finance and help create a sustainable future for their operations.
Learn about the Bright Beginnings Loan Program through Southwest Initiative FoundationProvide Free Training Space
In addition to fees to attend trainings, it has become increasingly difficult to find spaces to accommodate trainings for providers during evenings and weekends. Providing access to meeting, conference or board rooms (free of charge) increases the probability providers can attend trainings locally, or within reasonable distances. Visit the training spaces page to view the list of available free training spaces in southwest Minnesota. You can also add your training space to the list using this submission form.
Resources:
- Southwest Initiative Foundation: Child Care in Action (PDF) This fact sheet explores the five areas of focus for the foundation’s work supporting quality, affordable child care — a critical part of our economy and communities in southwest Minnesota.
- Southwest Initiative Foundation: Bright Beginnings Loan Program This fact sheet explores the five areas of focus for the foundation’s work supporting quality, affordable child care — a critical part of our economy and communities in southwest Minnesota.
- The Business Case for Investing in High-Quality Child Care (PDF) This fact sheet highlights the child care industry’s economic and job impact in Minnesota.
- Child Care Aware of Minnesota West/Central District Child Care Aware provides families, child care programs, and the community with information and support for quality child care that is affordable and accessible.
- First Children’s Finance First Children’s Finance provides loans and business-development assistance to high-quality child care businesses serving low- and moderate-income families.
