Expanding Education and Childcare Through Local Entrepreneurship

Ten years ago, self-proclaimed child advocate and foster parent Antoinette Williams founded a daycare in her own home: Precious Moments Early Childhood Education Academy. The center serves working parents on Indy's southeast side in it's new location at House of God Ministries.

Today, Antoinette Williams serves as the facility Director as well as the Education and Curriculum Coordinator, using her new role to enhance the educational quality of the growing facility which provides day care, preschool and after school care to children 6 weeks old to 12 years of age. Since the facility serves as an important resource for working parents, Antoinette reached out to United Way to receive an expansion grant that would allow her to expand the facility from holding 21 children to 88 children.

Through United Way's childcare business coaching partnership with Business Ownership Initiative (BOI), Antoinette was connected to the many resources that BOI offers entrepreneurs and childcare center administrators. Specifically, Antoinette received one-on-one coaching to help with financial forecasting and budgeting that would prepare her for the facility's expansion.

According to Antoinette, “Indy really does need BOI because this is a great place for small businesses. There's a lot of opportunity, but in that opportunity there’s a lot to learn. As a business owner, you may not know all the ins and outs of business operation, but you may know childcare. BOI helps you set that firm platform that will allow you to achieve in the long term.”

The Indy Chamber knows that businesses like Precious Moments Early Childhood Education Academy are an important resource for families in Indy's urban core. Quality and affordable childcare is a basic step towards a more inclusive economy – helping families of all socioeconomic backgrounds prepare for success in school and life. The Huntington Bank Foundation recently awarded BOI a $25,000 planning grant for a new project called “The Village". The Village will create a plan to makes quality, home-based child care accessible and available in low-to-moderate income (LMI) neighborhoods in Marion County with emphasis on partnerships with anchor institutions.  Learn more about the The Village here.

To learn more about BOI's on-one-on business coaching, visit Indychamber.com/coaching.