HB 832 would have a positive impact on our young kids and our state’s economy by providing a much-needed incentive – a $1,600 tax credit – for the early care and education professionals who work hard every day caring for Montana’s children. See the full bill text at bit.ly/MTHB832 

Child care workers are in high demand, but one in four of Montana’s early education providers live in poverty. That is double the rate of other workers and eight times the rate of K-12 teachers. Tax credits as workforce incentives have been used across the country to increase income and help with the recruitment and retention of early care and education professionals.   

Children thrive on stability and positive attachments and this bill would help support more caregivers to stay in their jobs. Continuity of care for young children helps decrease stress and behavior issues and eases the transition to school. 

Montanans want to see their child care workers stay in their programs and provide care for their young kids. A survey of registered Montana voters found two-thirds favor state tax credits in Montana to supplement wages for the child care workforce and 88% agree that a lack of child care has a significant impact on the state’s workforce. 

HB 832 will be heard tomorrow morning, March 21 at 9 a.m. in House Taxation in capitol room 152. 

Let your Montana representatives know how you feel about this bill!  

Sign up for remote testimony by 5 p.m. on March 20 (TODAY!): https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony/ 

Use the form on this webpage to send a message to the committee: https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/ 

Leave a message with the capitol switchboard at 406-444-4800.

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN:
Business Accelerator Mentorship Program

Montana Child Care Business Connect is launching a new program to support the growth of licensed/registered 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 generous grant from Montana DPHHS, and includes business resources, ECP-compliant training, networking and support, and mini-grants to support your business! Participants will receive stipends and ECP training hours, as well as valuable professional development opportunities.

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

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

If you, or someone you know, are considering opening a new licensed/registered child care business, if you are significantly growing an existing child care operation, or if you want to mentor new business owners, consider applying today!

Applications are open now and close on April 10. Program launches in May of this year.

Email all complete applications and documents to connect@zerotofive.org.

With questions about the mentorship program, contact Montana Child Care Business Connect's Program Manager, Rhonda Schwenke, at RhondaS@zerotofive.org.   

Register today for the next free webinar in Montana Child Care Business Connect's Tiny Training Webinar Series. 

Webinar Schedule: 
March 23: What are Different Types of Marketing? 

All Tiny Training webinars are held from 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. 

These free offerings are part of a webinar series specific to different aspects of business practices for business owners/directors/managers. Participants must attend a minimum of four of the seven offerings to receive CE credit. 

Register today for the next Tiny Training Series! 

Webinar Schedule: 
April 6: How do Mentorships Work?
April 20: How to Utilize a Business Advisor
May 4: How to Write a Budget
May 18: How to Price Your Services
June 1: How to Manage Your Money
June 15: How to Sustain a Business Without One-Time Funding
June 29: How to Organize Your Community Around Child Care Solutions

All Tiny Training webinars are held from 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. 

These free offerings are part of a webinar series specific to different aspects of business practices for business owners/directors/managers. Participants must attend a minimum of four of the seven offerings to receive CE credit. 

Missed a Tiny Training webinar? Subscribe to our new YouTube channel to access past recordings. Or, check them out on our website.

This project is funded in whole or in part under a contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statements herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department.