The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) launched a new initiative, “Childcare West Virginia: Building the Business that Supports Business.” This project is funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) POWER Initiative and is in partnership with the West Virginia Workforce Resiliency Office and private childcare development firm Wonderschool.

This initiative aims to increase access to affordable child care by establishing new profitable childcare businesses, helping existing childcare providers operate more efficiently, and allowing employers to recruit and retain workers by offsetting childcare costs.

“We are thrilled to kick off this pilot program to help West Virginia employers to attract and retain childcare workers and improve career pathways for childcare workers for coal-impacted communities,” said Mike Graney, West Virginia Department of Economic Development Acting Secretary.

The project area for the pilot program will include eight coal-impacted counties: Boone, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Roane, and Wirt.

Project Objectives

• Establish a Childcare Business Assistance (CBA) program that includes:

  • Creating 40 new childcare providers
  • Providing business sustainability services and coaching to 50 existing childcare providers
• Pilot a West Virginia Tri-Share program where child care costs will be shared between the employee (parent), the employer, and the state.

“With our technology and coaching, we help launch new child care businesses and improve existing ones, ensuring they thrive and address West Virginia’s child care challenges. We’re particularly excited about the Tri-Share pilot, which we feel has the potential to change the way employers and parents think about child care costs,” said Chris Bennett, CEO and Founder of Wonderschool. “We’re thrilled to partner with the SBDC to tackle these critical issues for the state.”

The Childcare Business Assistance program has begun recruiting qualified candidates who are interested in establishing their own childcare businesses and speaking with existing childcare providers about receiving business coaching and support. The Tri-Share Pilot program is planned to launch in March 2025.