GLADE SPRING, Va. (WJHL)—Many in Southwest Virginia need childcare. Although childcare is available in the region, centers are continuing to look for ways to better serve the community.
That’s where Virginia-based non-profit EO is stepping in.
“Some of these providers need expansion,” said EO CEO/President Travis Staton. “They need more help; they need more teachers.”
To assist these providers, EO created a childcare business challenge. The challenge sought to increase the capacity of both existing and new childcare providers. It began with a six-week course teaching the participants the best ways to run their businesses.
Both Staton and challenge judge Sandy Ratliff said the challenge was about more than supporting the businesses financially.
Southwest Virginia nonprofit making steady progress on new childcare hub
“That business challenge really gives them that hands-on guidance to help them not just in the classroom or from the curriculum side,” said Staton. “But more from the entrepreneur side and how to run a business.”
“Maybe they’re working in a childcare environment,” said Ratliff. “And [wondering], ‘Could I run my own business?’ And what I love about this program is we’re taking you through the steps of how you go about starting a business, how do you finance it, how do you market it? How do you manage it? It’s one thing to start a business, but there’s a lot of things that go into making that business successful.”
The announcement of the challenge winners took place at the start of May. One of those winners was Allison Burress, owner of Itty Bitties Academy in Glade Spring, Va. She began her own daycare after seeing the need in her life.
“Itty Bitties started two and a half years ago due to the fact that a personal need of my own for childcare for my grandchildren,” said Burress. “So I did go back to college, get my childcare credentials, and decided to start Itty Bitties Academy.”
The academy currently welcomes around 73 children.
Burress was awarded $10,000 towards expanding the academy. She said she hopes to add additional spots to her business.
“Our plans for expansion are a two-year-old classroom,” said Burress. “And then a kids club, which is our school-age program, a gym-type area next door on an adjoining property.”
The goal is to add 20 spots to the daycare’s capacity. Burress said she wants to do whatever she can to help families in need.
“I wish I could go bigger,” Burress said. “But right now, we’re going to go as big as we can to service as many families as we can.”
Addressing that need is why Ratliff said the challenge was started.
“That’s the key,” said Ratliff. “That’s why we did this. We have a need in Southwest Virginia.”
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