Derived from the business incubator model, this program provides childcare entrepreneurs a supportive place to launch their businesses and learn the skills necessary to sustain a profitable enterprise. The Childcare Incubator is critical in our community as it addresses the childcare shortage in New Britain while encouraging economic development of small businesses and providing employment opportunities for women.
This project is the first in Connecticut and the first in the country to operate like this. The Incubator supports the entrepreneurs with everything they need to become family home day care providers. Over a period of four months, the participants receive training in business literacy, business practices, financial literacy, and OEC licensing, after which four participants are selected to be part of the incubator.
Recruitment began with finding women in New Britain that were interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the childcare field. Through community info sessions, the initial ten participants were selected. This selections process began in September 2022.
On November 15, 2022, we received our first site visit and it was very special. During this site visit, many agency members, some of our incubator participants, and some of our advisory team were present. In late December 2022, training was officially underway as the potential providers met twice a week in a hybrid model. These trainings included instruction from the Women’s Business Development Council, Liberty Bank, nurse consultants, and education consultants.
On December 30, 2022, our Executive Director shared with all the YWCA branches that the Childcare Incubator Project had received an earmark funding.
On January 20, 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting Congresswoman Hayes at our childcare incubator site.
April 2023 finalized the training program for the first group of ten women. The hard work of these women, and the program in general, resulted in the opportunity for us to participate in a number of panels, such as the Blue Ribbon Panel on Childcare.
May 2024 marked the opening of the Childcare Business Incubator. We had the privilege of hosting YWCA USA CEO, Margaret Mitchell. This marked a significant moment in the timeline of this pilot project, the completion of the training process and one step closer towards being open for business.
Starting in September 2024, the four providers located at the Center of Excellence in New Britain opened for care. With their classrooms open for business, these women have been able to develop their teaching methods and gain expertise and experience.
The Incubator has also garnered award recognition. As of November 2024, this program was awarded the ImpaCT Award from United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Fox61 News in the Impactful Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion category. Shortly after, we received the National 2024 Zaentz Innovation Challenge Winner from the Harvard Business School. We are incredibly proud of this recognition and the hard work everyone has put into this pilot project.
The CIP was invited to interview to be part of the CT Children’s Collective.
For more information, contact Tracey Madden-Hennessey at 860-225-4681 ext 288 or Nicole Villanueva at 860-964-8363.
