The Business of Child Care

The Business of Child Care is an entrepreneurial training program for startup and existing child care providers located within the City of Pittsburgh, facilitated by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) in partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) and Invest PGH. Financial support provided by the PNC Foundation.

Through an application process, up to 12 startup and 12 existing child care providers located within the City of Pittsburgh will receive admission to The Business of Child Care, an intensive 10-week training program to launch or expand child care businesses. Startup and existing child care providers will participate in separate cohorts within the program.

• Tailored Child Care Curriculum
• One-on-one Coaching
• Entrepreneurial Education & Training through CWE
• One-year membership to CWE for immersive networking opportunities.
• Access an additional $5,000 in funds through the Child Care Reinvestment in Business Program (CRiB) Forgivable Loan offered by Invest PGH.

• Located within the City of Pittsburgh Map
• Aspires to become a full-time child care provider
• Actively seeking to grow a child care business
• For-Profit and Nonprofit organizations
• An entrepreneur who owns a majority stake in a child care business and is actively involved in the business's day-to-day operations.
• Willing to complete the 10-week training program
• Willing to complete interim and final program surveys

Upon completing the program, participants will be awarded a "Certification of Completion" and will be eligible to receive an addition $5,000 in forgivable loan funds through the Child Care Reinvestment in Business Program (CRiB) offered by Invest PGH. The CRiB program provides funds for child care businesses and non-profits located within the City of Pittsburgh. Funding can be used for working capital, payroll (including supplemental income), staff education, enrollment scholarships, equipment and minor leasehold improvements. Priority is given to women and minority led child care centers, those that serve a high percentage of children receiving subsidies, and centers that demonstrate a strong financial need.

If course participants have not yet applied to CRiB, they are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 or 90% of total project costs upon course completion. For CRiB borrowers that complete the Business of Child Care Program, $5,000 will be added to their forgivable loan. Learn more about CRiB here.

• February 1, 2022: Applications Open.
• February 25, 2022: Applications Close.
• March 2, 2022: The Business of Child Care Cohorts Finalized & Notified.
• March 15, 2022: First Session for The Business of Child Care Start-up Program.
• March 17, 2022: First Session for The Business of Child Care Existing Program.

Selected applicants will participate in ten training sessions over eleven weeks. Three sessions will be in-person at the Hill House Association and seven sessions online via Zoom.
Required: Zoom capable device and internet access to participate.

The Business of Child Care Start-Up Program will run on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 PM from March 15 to May 24, 2022. In-person sessions will be on March 15, April 26 and May 24. There will be no class April 12.

• To view the syllabus for the Business of Child Care Start-up Program: Click Here.

The Business of Child Care Existing Program will run on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM from March 17 to May 26. In-person sessions will be on March 17, April 28 and May 26. There will be no class April 17.

• To view the syllabus for the Business of Child Care Existing Program: Click Here.

The Business of Child Care program is funded with the support of The PNC Foundation.

Questions: Contact: Womens-Entrepreneurship@Chatham.edu or call 412-365-1253