DENVER, AUGUST 16, 2021 – Energize Colorado is pleased to announce the launch of our child care mentor program to provide finance, marketing, and other general business support to Colorado child care providers.
Colorado child care providers have struggled through an extremely difficult environment, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is an industry in crisis, and child care providers need advice and support,” said David Secunda, Energize Colorado’s Child Care Initiative Lead.
In the Spring of 2021, Energize Colorado, a 501c3, performed a survey of 62 Colorado home and center–based child care providers to better understand the most pressing challenges faced by industry participants. Survey respondents cited “General business support [marketing, budgeting, etc.], Mental health support, and Access to funding” as their top needs.
In response, Energize Colorado developed resources to help those assisting child care providers, including the following:
· Budget Templates: A 5-minute overview video accompanies a budget worksheet that will give in-home and center-based providers the ability to create a revenue-based budget.
· Marketing Support: A 30-minute webinar with specific marketing advice to enrich enrollment. Panelists include leaders at early education centers and marketing leaders.
· Need to Know Resources: Links to funding sources and other child care-specific business support, including Iron-Triangle (a simple formula for financial policy).
Energize Colorado also provides free mentoring services to child care providers. Mentors provide support by helping with budget creation, marketing support, navigating resources, and more. Mentors are available to answer a quick question, provide group mentorship, and meet individually with providers to lend guidance. Child care providers can sign up here.
Energize Colorado’s mission is to promote resilience in Colorado’s small business ecosystem, and we believe that child care providers are an integral piece of our economy.
For further information or partnering and childcare mentor resource requests, please contact kanitha.snow@energize.colorado.com.