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Mark your calendars!
May 12: Provider Appreciation Day
May 14: Mother's Day
Montana Child Care Business Connect Tiny Training Webinars
(1:30-2 p.m.) More info below!
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
Executive Director Update
The month of May is flying by! We are still celebrating important early childhood legislative successes, and encouraging the Governor’s signature on key legislation. If you have questions about actions you can take, be sure to reach out and follow us on social media for timely calls to action.
In addition to the launch of two new child care projects targeted at community capacity building for child care solutions and a child care business accelerator program, we also attended the SHRM conference to help human resource professionals learn about child care solutions for their workforce, and are looking forward to presenting at the upcoming MEDA state conference about the economic impacts of child care.
We are so encouraged to see actions to address child care across so many sectors. As always, reach out to our team if you have questions, or want to know how you can take action to elevate early care and education in your community!
Zero to Five Montana is Hiring!
We are so excited to expand our team - check out the postings below and if you are interested, we hope you apply!
Program Assistant - If you identify as someone who is positive, detail oriented, a great task manager, and committed to challenging but dynamic work, we hope you consider this position to support our essential general office operations.
Child Care Business Advisor - Are you a skilled business advisor and trainer with a passion for innovation and childcare business? We are seeking an individual to lead work alongside the Small Business Development Center network to support the childcare system in Montana.
Mentorship program in full swing
Last week, selected mentors and protégés gathered in Billings for the launch of our Child Care Business Accelerator Mentorship Program.
Eight mentors and nine proteges gathered for mentor-specific training, social and networking activities, and a full day of getting acquainted and going over program expectations.
The program has paired experienced small business leaders with new or expanding child care businesses owners/operators to offer a one-year, guided process to a successful business launch or expansion. The program targets child care businesses that are in the early stages of development and operation – anywhere from concept to the first year of operations.
The mentorship functions as a hybrid business incubator/professional development program, providing new business owners with in-depth information on the fundamentals of child care business operations – budgets, staffing, risk management, policies and procedures, facilities, and more.
Participants will receive monthly training and work with their mentors over 12 months to develop business plans, financial projections, policy manuals, and similar business documents that form the foundation of successful child care businesses.
We’re excited to continue to share this group’s progress over the coming year!
Six communities represented in capacity building program kickoff
Shelby & Alex at the Finlen Hotel
Last month, 16 people from six Montana communities gathered in Butte to kick off the first cohort of our community capacity building program.
During the meeting on April 19, connections were created between the Community Capacity Building Cohort participants and the MCCBC team. In the training sessions, communities gained a foundational knowledge of the child care industry, community collaboration, and meeting facilitation. The day ended by discussing what the early childhood system looks like in their Montana communities from an individual and economic lens.
The future of the early care and education system looks bright knowing there are leaders across Montana putting in the work for their young children!
Stay tuned over the next six months to see the impact these groups will have on their communities!
Zero to Five Montana's Jason Nitschke featured on local business podcast
Jason Nitschke, senior childcare business advisor, is featured on the latest episode of “The Vault at 201” podcast.
In this episode of The Vault, Jason walks listeners through his own entrepreneurial journey beginning as a child in Montana mowing lawns. He shares the background behind starting his own businesses in adulthood, and how he succeeded, failed, learned, and grew along the way. Each of Jason's experiences eventually led him to where he is now: teaching, advising, and inspiring other entrepreneurs and small business owners through Montana Child Care Business Connect.
Listen to this episode about the realities of entrepreneurship and owning a small business and the advice, tips, and resources available to work through the nitty gritty.
Listen and learn more here: https://bigskyeconomicdevelopment.org/thevaultat201/
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 two hours of ECP credit.
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
Missed a Tiny Training webinar? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to access past recordings. Or visit childcarebusinessconnect.com.
Upcoming in-person events:
September 13-14: Annual Child Care Business Summit | Fairmont Hot Springs Resort | Anaconda, Montana
In the News
- Kalispell Planning Board approves new child care center - Flathead Beacon
- $200k grant for Early Childhood Coalition of the Greater Helena Area - KXLH
- Montana families need both the child tax credit and public investment in child care - Montana Standard (Zero to Five Montana with the Center for Law & Social Policy)
Did you miss our special edition post-legislative session newsletter? Find it here.
PARTNER NEWS: Montana Milestones Part C Early Intervention invites feedback
Montana Milestones Part C Early Intervention invites you to provide your expertise and feedback about the ways our early childhood system supports infants and toddlers with support needs.
The University of Montana’s Institute for Early Childhood Education and Montana State University have partnered with Montana Milestones to gather your perspective. Please follow this link to 1) give your consent to participate, 2) complete the survey, and 3) receive $25.
You may have already received an invitation to complete the survey. Please complete the survey ONE time only, but be sure to include your contact info if you would like to participate in an interview and/or focus group. You are encouraged to share this survey with your colleagues and partners so they can gather as much data as possible to best support infants and toddlers with support needs.
