Childcare Initiative-Flint Hills Community Accelerator Fund

Goal: $20,000.00

Specific Need

The Childcare Business Initiative (CBI) strives to support and nurture licensed family childcare providers that will transition from the suites in the CBI out into the community after approximately one year. Providers will need child-sized furniture, toys, and materials to build developmentally appropriate environments for the children in their care. These items can be costly and a barrier for family childcare businesses. Upon successful completion of training and mentoring, providers will complete a wish list of items with their coaches/mentors to furnish their new environment for care. When you support a family childcare provider, you are not only supporting then, but also children, families, and our local workforce.

Mission

At CBI, our mission is to empower educators and entrepreneurs to build quality childcare services through business training, operational support, and access to resources that foster sustainable growth.

Profile

The Childcare Business Initiative addresses one of the region's most pressing challenges: the lack of available, affordable childcare. By empowering childcare entrepreneurs, CBI helps fill the growing demand for quality childcare while also supporting local workforce development.

The Challenge

In 2021, the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce identified childcare as a top priority for workforce attraction and retention. Child Care Aware® of Kansas reported that 1,284 childcare slots were needed in Riley County alone, with current services meeting only 50% of this demand. Neighboring Pottawatomie County faces similar shortages, needing 635 slots but only meeting 56% of the demand.

Our Solution – The Childcare Business Initiative

In response, the Chamber developed a business accelerator program to help entrepreneurial childcare providers launch and scale their businesses. This model provides:

Access to training, mentorship, and resources tailored to childcare entrepreneurs.
Support for business growth, moving entrepreneurs from the initiative to their independent location in the community, and onboarding new participants every cycle.

Grant and Funding Success

With the support of local partners, including the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and Ascension Via Christi Hospital, CBI secured $2.35M in grant funding from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet Child Care Capacity Accelerator program. This grant enabled the launch of the new facility, which will provide the infrastructure for future childcare businesses to flourish.

Looking Ahead

CBI's goal is to build a thriving childcare ecosystem by generating up to eight new businesses every 12-18 months, creating a continuous pipeline of childcare providers that meet the growing demand in the Manhattan area. Our approach ensures long-term sustainability, economic growth, and support for working families.