Prince George’s, MD – The Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) in collaboration with FSC First is proud to announce the successful conclusion of the MWBC Childcare Business Program pilot in Prince George’s County. This innovative initiative was designed to support family childcare providers in strengthening their business operations, enhancing capacity, improving quality, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The MWBC Childcare Business Program was created to address the decline in family childcare providers , an essential service for working families in Maryland. Recognizing the critical role that family childcare providers play in the community, MWBC and FSC First aim to equip small business owners with the tools and resources necessary to thrive. The pilot program, which concluded mid-August, trained 9 family childcare providers in a comprehensive business-intensive training series.
Over the course of the 5-week program, participants received business training and hands-on technical assistance from experienced consultants. The training and counseling topics, included business foundations, marketing strategies, operations, financial management, and access to capital. Aurelia Moore of Mrs. Moore’s Childcare participation in the program allowed her to onboard a full-time staff member, serve more clients and expand her business. Similarly, Robin Parker of Parker’s Child Care successfully hired a part-time staff member to assist with marketing and advertising, further strengthening her business.
“Through my participation in the MWBC childcare business program, I was able to identify and confirm the key requirements for growing my business. I learned how to effectively market my services, create a comprehensive business plan, and develop a clear vision.” said Aurelia Moore of Mrs. Moore’s Childcare. “The program also provided strategies for growth and sustainability, which allowed me to hire an additional staff member, successfully onboard them, and maintain financial profitability. Additionally, I was able to share my involvement and success with the MWBC program with parents and families, further building trust and credibility within my clients, fellow program participants and my community.”
The success of the MWBC Childcare Business Program pilot underscores MWBC and FSC First’s commitment to supporting small businesses in underserved communities. By focusing on the childcare sector, MWBC and FSC First aim to not only strengthen the childcare landscape in Prince George’s County but also to contribute to the economic vitality of the region by helping family childcare providers build sustainable and profitable businesses.
“Addressing the shortage of childcare services in our state is a priority, and the successful conclusion of the MWBC Childcare Business Program pilot marks a significant step forward,” said Dawn R. Medley, the President & CEO of FSC First. “This initiative has empowered family childcare providers with essential tools and resources to enhance their operations, fostering a deeper sense of community support. By supporting these small businesses, we are ensuring that working families have access to quality childcare, which is vital for our region’s economic vitality. The impact of this program is a testament to the power of collaboration and our commitment to fostering sustainable growth in our community.”
“Family childcare providers in Prince George’s County deliver essential care to our youngest residents while managing the challenges of running and growing their businesses,” said Francisco Cartagena, Program Manager at MWBC. “Our partnership with FSC First gave these providers the chance to assess their business health, receive expert guidance, and learn about accessing capital all of which set them on a path toward long-term success.”
For more information about the MWBC Childcare Business Program, please visit marylandwbc.org/childcare-program.
Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) works with women entrepreneurs and small businesses across Maryland’s Capital Region to help them to start, sustain, and grow their businesses. Through workshops, individual counseling, facilitated peer group support, special resources, and access to capital, MWBC annually helps more than 1,500 women gain the skills, connections, and confidence necessary to navigate entrepreneurship. Learn more at marylandwbc.org.
FSC First – FSC First was founded in 1978 in Prince George’s County to serve small businesses through the implementation of a specialized financial program. Today, we offer more than 13 unique programs to an array of businesses, industries and professions seeking to develop within the county and locations within Maryland. Our expansion of services features portfolio management, loan servicing expertise, wealth management, financial education, a diverse range of financing programs and revolving loan funds. Our commitment to excellence has generated over $100 million dollars in direct loans to small and minority-owned businesses in Prince George’s County and spurred more than 400 jobs in our local community. We are proud to contribute to the ongoing successes of our economy and encourage new strategic partnerships. Learn more at fscfirst.com.