Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) and the city of Goleta recently partnered to address the childcare crisis in the region through the Business of Care program.

Eleven home based-childcare business owners joined a six-week training course designed to bolster their business growth and provide them with essential skills such as record-keeping, basic finance, and marketing.

Business of Care or Emprendedoras de Guarderia participants gather for a photo with WEV staff. (Courtesy photo)
Business of Care, or Emprendedoras de Guarderia, participants with WEV staff. (Courtesy photo)

Program participants will receive a stipend for their business, which will be awarded at a 6 p.m. ceremony Wednesday, March 12 at the Goleta Community Center.

“These entrepreneurs will benefit not only from stipends but also from tailored coaching to help them overcome challenges and achieve growth,” WEV said.

Delivered entirely in Spanish, the Business of Care program empowered participants to build sustainable, profitable enterprises; earn a meaningful wage; increase household income; and even generate generational wealth.

Guest speakers enriched the experience, and, thanks to Partners in Education, daycare owners without computers received laptops to fully participate.

“The program completely transformed how I manage my childcare business,” one participant said. “I learned to take control of my finances, from setting up retirement savings and emergency funds to planning for other important financial goals.”

The following businesses participated: Santiago Family Childcare, Growing Steps, Elena’s House Daycare, Celeste Family Childcare, Hernandez Family Child Care, Little Dreamers Daycare, Guzmán Family’s Childcare, Lopez Martinez Family Childcare, Teo’s Daycare, and The Community of Love.