Business Management

• Rebuilding, expanding, or starting a child care center or family child care program
• State relief resources for small businesses
• National organizations
• Additional information about rebuilding, expanding, or starting up a child care center or family child care program
• Collaboration with planning for redevelopment in communities

Rebuilding, expanding, or starting a child care center or family child care program

Small businesses planning to rebuild, expand, or start a new program in response to the destruction caused by a disaster can take advantage of Federal and State programs and national organizations that offer funding and services. In addition, child care businesses-private and nonprofit, centers and family homes, licensed and license-exempt-need to be part of State and community plans for economic relief and reconstruction.

General information about starting a child care program is available in the following documents:

• Starting a Child Care Center is on the Web in English at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/starting.pdf and in Spanish [Cómo establecer un centro de cuidado infantil] at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/spanish/starting-sp.pdf.

• Starting a Family Child Care Program is on the Web in English at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/starfund.pdf and in Spanish [Cómo establecer un programa de cuidado de niños en el hogar] at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/spanish/starfund-sp.pdf.

• The Child Care Microenterprise Toolkit (2006), published by the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has information about small business and asset building opportunities for child care providers and aspiring or existing business owners. The Toolkit includes tip sheets for small businesses about individual development accounts, micro-loans, and related resources; tip sheets for trainers and technical assistance providers, and a Child Care Microenterprise Program Directory. This resource is available on the Web at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/index.html#microenterprise.

Federal Resources for Small Businesses

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers disaster assistance to homeowners, renters, and business owners who suffer losses due to disasters. Apply on the Web at http://www.fema.gov/ or call the registration line at 800-621-3362. Individuals with hearing- or speech-impairments should call (TTY) 800-462-7585. Multilingual operators are available.

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a wide variety of loan programs. For disaster information, contact SBA at 800-659-2955 or on the Web at http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/index.html. For general SBA information, contact SBA at 800-359-2227 or on the Web at http://www.sba.gov/.

• GovBenefits.gov is a screening tool to help individuals and businesses find government benefits. It lists benefits individuals and businesses may be eligible to receive and provides information about how to apply for those programs. Additional information is available on the Web in English at http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_en.portal and in Spanish at http://www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits_es.portal.

• The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) offers information specifically for members of minority groups who own or wish to start their own businesses. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.mbda.gov.

• Grants.gov is the single access point for over one thousand grant programs offered by all Federal grant-making agencies. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.grants.gov.

• Federal Preparedness Grant Programs as Reported to DHS/FEMA NIMS Integration Center is available on the Web at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/nims/federal_prep_grant_prog.pdf.

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State relief resources for small businesses

• State Child Care Licensing Agencies may have changed their child care licensing regulations to assist child care programs and family child care providers with enrolling and serving children from evacuated families. NCCIC has a directory of State licensing agencies in the State Contacts section of its Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/regoffic.html.




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National organizations

The following is a sample of organizations that may provide grants or other assistance for child care providers and communities recovering from disasters.

• Trickle Up is a non-profit organization that supports small businesses, including home-based childcare centers, by providing seed capital in the form of a $700 conditional grant, as well as basic business training through one of their partners. Trickle Up entrepreneurs are selected based on the viability of their business plan and their dedication to their success. Participation in training is a very important part of preparing a plan and qualifying for the grant. Entrepreneurs whose business plans are approved will receive $500 to invest in their microenterprise and after three months of business activity, another $200 to continue building their business. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.trickleup.org or by contacting Trickle Up at usa@trickleup.org or 866-246-9980.

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Disaster Assistance and Recovery promotes communication and coordination between businesses, governments, and relief agencies. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.uschamber.com/bclc/programs/disaster_response.htm.






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Additional information about rebuilding, expanding, or starting up a child care center or family child care program

• The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) has resources that list organizations and publications with information on the following topics:

  Designing Child Care Facilities is on the Web at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/designing.pdf.

  Funding Opportunities for Child Care is on the Web in English at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/funding-opportunities.html and in Spanish [Oportunidades de financiamiento para el cuidado infantile] at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/spanish/funding-opportunities-sp.pdf.

  Grants and Grant Writing is on the Web at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/grantwriting.pdf.

  Liability Insurance for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers is on the Web in English at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/liability.pdf and in Spanish [Los seguros de responsabilidad civil para hogares y centros de cuidado infantile] at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/spanish/liability-sp.pdf.

  For additional resources, see the Child Care as a Business topic in the Popular Topics section of the NCCIC Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/index.html#ccbusiness.

• The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is composed of retired or semi-retired business executives who donate their time and expertise to counsel and mentor individuals starting a business. Additional information is on the Web at http://www.score.org.




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Collaboration with planning for redevelopment in communities

The following resources have information that will help child care businesses participate in community efforts to recover from the affects of disasters.

• Rural Development, Rural Housing Service: The Community Facilities Loan Program (CFLP), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), makes loans to develop community facilities for public use in rural areas and towns of not more than 20,000 people. For additional information, contact the USDA's Rural Housing Service at 202-720-1490 or on the Web at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html

• The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides States with annual direct grants, which they in turn award to smaller communities and rural areas for use in revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing and economic opportunities, and/or improving community facilities and services, principally to benefit low- and moderate-income persons. Additional information is available on the Web at http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/index.cfm.




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