Advantage Valley, a nine-county regional economic development organization, will host twelve childcare start-up business workshops from March to November 2025, as part of its Fostering Advantages for Start-Ups & Entrepreneurial Resurgence in WV (FASTER WV) program.
The childcare business workshops, supported by grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission, will begin in Jackson County on March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Development Authority Office, located at 167 Seneca Drive, Ripley, WV 25271.
These free workshops will provide valuable resources for individuals interested in starting a childcare facility—whether in their home or a larger center—or expanding their existing operations. Advantage Valley will host one session per month throughout 2025 across the nine counties it serves: Boone, Clay, Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne.
“In the Advantage Valley region, studies indicate a childcare deficit of over 5,000 slots, affecting 32% of eligible children in our area,” said Terrell Ellis, President and CEO of Advantage Valley. “Childcare access is a significant barrier to workforce participation. With the growing number of job opportunities, our role as an economic development organization is to provide resources for those interested in starting a childcare facility.”
Each childcare business workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of key areas essential for starting a childcare business. Advantage Valley will lead the sessions, guiding participants through the business resources, technical assistance, and mini-grant opportunities available through the FASTER WV program.
Additionally, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center and Wonderschool, a private childcare development firm, will collaborate with Advantage Valley to share insights from Wonderschool’s childcare start-up resources. These resources include business coaching, website and financial management, and operational oversight, all designed to help childcare start-ups achieve long-term success.
Other partners attending to support aspiring childcare business owners include local health departments, which will review the food and facility permitting process; local childcare resource and referral agencies, which will outline the first steps in establishing a childcare business and available professional development opportunities; and fire marshals, who will provide key safety guidance for new childcare providers.
The first series of childcare workshops, which are free to attend, will be held at the following locations:
- Jackson County at 6:30 p.m. – March 6th at Jackson County Development Authority – 167 Seneca Drive, Ripley WV 25271
- Putnam County at 6:30 p.m. – April 10th at Area 34 – 7093, 971 WV-34, Hurricane, WV 25526
- Kanawha County at 6:30 p.m. – May 6th at the Connect CCR&R Office (1 Players Club Dr, Charleston, WV 25311)
Those interested in attending the workshops can register for the free event on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/advantage-valley-55321568063.
“These workshops will help those interested in starting a childcare business what the first steps are and what contacts they need to have to start,” said Ellis. “We understand taking that leap to be an entrepreneur can be intimidating. We want those who are considering starting a childcare business to know Advantage Valley and these other organizations are here to support their success.”
Additional workshops will be held in the following counties Boone County (June 17th), Lincoln County (July 24th), Clay County (August 12th), Wayne County (September 18th), Cabell County (October 2nd), and Mason County (November 1st). Additional information will be provided on the future workshops at www.advantagevalley.com.
