The City of SeaTac, in partnership with the Imagine Institute, is tackling the childcare crisis by opening new licensed childcare businesses and providing much needed wraparound business support to small, licensed childcare business owners located in SeaTac.
Imagine U-Opening New Childcare Businesses in SeaTac
After extensive outreach efforts including phone calls, mass emails, social media campaigns reaching more than 200,000 users, attending several local community events, and meeting with several partner organizations located in SeaTac, the City of SeaTac and the Imagine Institute are in progress to open 17 new licensed childcare business in the City of SeaTac by summer 2024.
These 17 businesses will go on to care for up to 204 children in the community, including low-income families receiving Working Connection Child Care subsidies.
“Right now, Imagine U is helping me reach my goals and I’m going to be ready for when I open my daycare. It’s really helping me a lot because we’re doing it step by step,” said Karen Florian, a SeaTac resident who is currently an Intern with Imagine U.
Imagine and the City of SeaTac are ramping up outreach efforts in hopes of launching a second cohort of up to 30 aspiring childcare business owners in early 2024.
Imagine U program participants will receive:
- 160 hours of paid on-the-job training
- Comprehensive business planning and licensing preparation support
- A $4,000 grant to invest in their new business
- A dedicated peer mentor to guide them through the whole process
If you or anyone you know would like to learn more about running your own child care business from home, please visit Imagine’s website. You can also apply here.
Shared Services-Supporting SeaTac’s Existing Child Care Businesses
The Imagine Institute’s Shared Services Hub is currently supporting 61 family childcare businesses and two child care centers in the City of SeaTac, representing the capacity to serve up to 818 children in our community. The Hub is a business accelerator specifically tailored to childcare businesses, saving them thousands of dollars each year in business-related expenses.
Through the Shared Services Hub, business owners and their staff can access:
- Free required training for childcare staff
- Free subscriptions to business software like QuickBooks and Brightwheel
- Free access to Imagine’s proprietary business tools including an early childhood education job board, website builder, and directory
- Free expert one-on-one consultation in areas like business taxes, child behavioral support, and human resources
- Connection to a professional learning community and a lead peer mentor to reduce isolation and burnout
- A Specialty Mentor who specializes in ECE technology platforms and other topic areas
Hafsa Yusuf, a childcare business owner based in SeaTac and a member of the Shared Services Hub, says,
“I want to thank the Imagine Institute for the Shared Services program, which has helped me grow professionally,” Hafsa Yusuf, a SeaTac-based childcare business owner said. “My staff and I receive different opportunities for training, professional consulting for tax services, QuickBooks, Policy Wizard, and monthly peer meetings. I received all these services online or in person. I want to say thanks again to Shared Services and their team and the services they are providing our communities.”
If you would like to learn more about the Shared Services Hub, including how to join, visit the Shared Services Hub website.
City of SeaTac Blog 