Photography credit: Robert Silver https://silverimages4u.weebly.com/
On Saturday, June 8th, the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) launched the Childcare Biz Bootcamp, an innovative program designed to revolutionize the childcare sector. As someone involved in supporting small businesses and a mom of two, witnessing the profound impact of accessible childcare firsthand in Austin, I’m excited to share how this program aims to transform the lives of both families and entrepreneurs.
Addressing the Childcare Crisis
The cost of childcare is soaring. According to a recent Care.com survey, enrolling a child in licensed daycare now costs an average of $16,692 annually. That’s about 25% of the average U.S. income, putting quality childcare out of reach for many families. This high cost has significant economic implications, as parents, particularly mothers, are often forced to reduce their work hours or leave the workforce entirely due to the lack of affordable childcare options. In fact, Motherly’s 2024 State of Motherhood Survey reported that two-thirds of moms considered leaving the workforce last year due to the stress and cost of childcare, highest among Gen Z at 82%.
EGBI stepped up to address this issue by launching the Childcare Biz Bootcamp, a comprehensive program tailored to the unique needs of childcare businesses in Austin.
What is the Childcare Biz Bootcamp?
Drawing on two decades of experience assisting thousands of entrepreneurs, EGBI’s Childcare Biz Bootcamp offered training in business management, financial planning, and marketing strategies. The program was structured to help childcare providers optimize their operations, manage their finances effectively, and attract and retain clients through marketing strategies.
EGBI plans to have another Bootcamp later this year. Beyond a full day of learning for childcare providers, the program also includes continuing business coaching to ensure long-term success.
A Community Event to Remember
The launch event, held at Austin PBS (KLRU-TV), 6101 Highland Campus Dr, Building 3000 Austin, TX 78752, was more than just a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was a celebration of community resilience and a commitment to supporting the workforce behind the workforce, childcare providers. EGBI already has wonderful stories of daycare facilities that are now opening their second and third locations, and this new, improved program will focus on helping more childcare providers increase their profitability and sustainability, ensuring they can continue to offer essential services to families in the community. The program directly addresses the biggest challenges of the current childcare crisis by equipping providers with the tools and resources they need to thrive in today’s challenging environment.
Why This Matters
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of childcare providers, who faced widespread closures and reduced capacities. The Childcare Biz Bootcamp aimed to equip providers with the tools they need to navigate these challenges and continue offering essential services to families.
Economic Impact
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 58% of working parents reported that a lack of childcare has impacted their job performance during the pandemic. By empowering childcare providers, EGBI is not only supporting these essential businesses but also enabling parents to remain in or re-enter the workforce, thus contributing to economic stability and growth.
Provider Voices
“The training and skills EGBI provide to business owners is a game-changer,” said Maria E. Dominguez, M.Ed., from Cielito Lindo Spanish Immersion Preschool in Austin. “While I’ve been attending EGBI workshops for many years, its comprehensive English and Spanish trainings and strategic emphasis on operational efficiency tools has undoubtedly elevated our capacity to deliver exemplary service to the families and children in our care at Cielito Lindo SIP.”
EGBI’s Commitment
“We recognize the vital role that childcare providers play in our community, especially during these challenging times,” said Larissa Davila, Executive Director of EGBI. “Our goal with Childcare Biz Bootcamp is to empower these essential businesses to not only survive but thrive, ensuring they can continue to support families and contribute to the local economy.”
EGBI has always been dedicated to supporting the “real” entrepreneurs—those who aren’t receiving multimillion-dollar venture funds but are crucial to our community’s fabric. By providing sustainable and profitable business practices, EGBI has helped numerous ventures achieve significant milestones.
Austin Childcare Center Statistics
According to Texas Health and Human Services, there are 624 registered childcare centers in Travis County, with a total capacity across all age groups just over 55,000. However, the number of children aged 5 or less in Travis County is over 73,000. The gap highlights the significant demand for childcare services in the area. Additionally, Children at Risk, a research and advocacy organization, reported that Texas lost 21% of its childcare providers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 2020 to September 2021.
On average, families in Travis County spend from $9,417 to $11,705 every year on childcare, which represents a significant percentage of household income, with the median household income in Travis County being $92,731 as of 2022.
Final Thoughts
In summary, the Childcare Biz Bootcamp represents a significant step towards addressing the childcare crisis in Austin. By empowering providers with the necessary skills and resources, EGBI is fostering a more resilient and accessible childcare system. This initiative not only benefits the providers but also the families and children who rely on their essential services.
If you are a childcare provider or know a childcare provider, reach out to EGBI to be on the list for the Childcare Biz Bootcamp. Contact 512-928-2594 or hello@egbi.org.
Kandance Vallejo, the visionary behind Remedios Consulting, shares valuable insights on launching and growing successful businesses with a focus on interpersonal relationships and leadership coaching. Transitioning from business ownership to consulting, Vallejo emphasizes innovative thinking in overcoming challenges.
Kandance’s advice resonates with small businesses and nonprofits, emphasizing coaching in leadership. In contrast, in a podcast, she discusses her entrepreneurial journey, highlighting the importance of interpersonal relationships and coaching.
Addressing scaling challenges, Kandance advocates for early hiring to prevent burnout, collaborates with Tressa Rowland for profitable strategies in 2024, and advises prioritizing business intelligence and realistic planning. She underscores the significance of strong teams and effective leadership hiring, training, and support. Kandance emphasizes responsibility in training employees and suggests seeking operational support for sustainable growth.
Larry D. Williams is the Community Liaison for the HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) of the Purchasing Department of Travis County. Travis County and its HUB department are award-winning organizations within the government purchasing arena. He received his BA from Arizona State in Mass Communications and Media Studies with a minor in Public Policy and Public Service. Larry prides himself in bringing professionalism, innovation, and equity to the forefront of every position he has been involved in. Larry has focused his entire career on expanding nonprofits’ and governmental agencies’ community-level work to enhance their effectiveness with their most important stakeholders. It is his passion for seeing professionals and community organizations break through their boundaries and expand their effectiveness in their given communities.
–Larry shares his experience as a volunteer with EGBI.
–Share a fun fact with us.
A fun fact about me is that I am new to Central Texas. I have an ever-growing list on my phone of great and unique places on my phone that I have experienced since I moved here.
“It became more desirable for me to be a small part of seeing that mission available to the community” – Larry D.Williams
-How did you first get involved with EGBI?
When I was hired as the Community Liaison for the Travis County Purchasing HUB program I went through the HUB Resource Guide and connected with external stakeholders listed there. EGBI was one of those organizations.
-Why do you volunteer for EGBI?
I was first impressed by the professionalism of the staff. As I became more aware of the mission and vision of EGBI it became more desirable for me to be a small part of seeing that mission available to the community.
-How has your involvement with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?
My time volunteering with EGBI introduced me to the entrepreneurial climate of Austin and Travis County. Being involved with EGBI also made me that much more excited to enhance this community by improving the access that Historically Underutilized Businesses have to the Purchasing process of Travis County.
– What was the most rewarding experience you had while volunteering for EGBI?
Being able to share the HUB process of not only Travis County but also the other governmental agencies in the area.
– Why do you think others should volunteer or support EGBI?
I believe others will find a passion for the entrepreneurial climate of the City of Austin and Travis County and its importance in our community.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to support our efforts, please visit our website https://egbi.org/donate/.
For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. National Small Business Week is celebrated during the first week of May every year and takes place from April 30 to May 6 this year. As a local partner organization in Central Texas of Small Business Administration (SBA), Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) is looking to close the gap of information from informal business to bankable businesses.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners in central Texas who face barriers to growing a successful business. These barriers can be financial literacy, cultural awareness, education, and capital.
Through out the year, EGBI equips small business owners to a road of success through trainings on building a business plan, automating their business, and 90 days to success. Support services include free legal clinic twice a year and setting up Quickbooks for your business by appointment.
Most importantly, EGBI offers individualized help to central Texas business owners through business coaching to new or growing businesses. This may include bookkeeping support, marketing assistance, techinical training on apps to save a business time, or helping to reach business goals. Read more and register today for business coaching services in English and Spanish by clicking HERE.
Meet Pilar Sanchez. In 2000, she was responsible for starting another Housing Authority City of Austin (HACA) subsidiary, SHCC, from the ground up. SHCC now generates the revenue to fund the social services provided by Austin Pathways, the non-profit she currently leads at HACA.
Sanchez’s entrepreneurial spirit was instrumental in co-founding a business incubator in East Austin in 2008. Sanchez brokered a three-tiered partnership between her employer, the Housing Authority (HACA), the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC), and the Hispanic Technology Institute of Austin (HTIA) to start an incubator that would help small to medium business thrive and create new jobs during the recession. This became the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), which spun off as its own independent non-profit in 2010. HACA still supports EGBI in many ways; they provide the space at Eastland Plaza, and have provided over $1 Million in funding for operations since 2010.
As a co-founder and lifelong EGBI volunteer, Pilar hopes that EGBI can encourage others to not only support themselves but to also support their families, friends, and community through the value of philanthropy.
Pilar shares a quick fun fact about herself. “While my mother taught me to be a strong, independent, and caring person, she never taught me to bake. My daughter asked me to make her a castle made of cupcakes for her 4th birthday. John, my husband, knew we were in trouble when I could not find a box of cupcake mix in the cake-mix aisle. Don’t ask me to bake for you; you might regret it. ” Although we may not ask her to bake for EGBI, her unwaivering commitment to EGBI and the local community is evident through all the areas she has volunteered for the organization. She has served on the board, various committees, and different projects throughout the years.
In 2020, EGBI volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Pilar make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training ,coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.
Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how you can get involved.
Meet Mike Lancaster. Mike was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, but later moved to Round Rock with his wife and kids. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and earned a degree in Business Management. Mike is a 25-years veteran in the banking industry. He is currently a Middle Market Business Banker at Wells Fargo Bank. Mike has held many leadership positions in the consumer and business lending division of Wells Fargo across Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Mike also is a mentor to many junior bankers.
He is on the board of EGBI and a Board Member of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Mike shares his experience as a volunteer with EGBI and how you can get involved too.
Hi Mike! To get started tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I am a graduate of Leadership Round Rock class of 2014. In my free time I Coach YMCA Soccer, and love to travel around trying out new restaurants.
How have you volunteered for EGBI?
I have taught classes, attended events and have been an active board member for the past 7 years. I just love to hear the stories from our clients of what inspired them to start a small business and how they went about accomplishing their goals.
Why do you think it is important to support and volunteer with EGBI?
EGBI helps individuals fulfill their dream of starting and running a small business. EGBI provides clients the coaching and support they need to accomplish their goals.
“You should support EGBI because they provide the coaching and support to small businesses to help them succeed financially.” Mike Lancaster
Why is it important for EGBI to help small businesses in Central Texas?
EGBI helps build the foundation and provide ongoing coaching support for business owners to help them be successful. So many businesses fail because they don’t have the support or knowledge about how to run a small business. EGBI helps bridge those gaps and provide a support network to help clients to be more successful.
In 2020, volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Mike make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training ,coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.
Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how to get involved.
