Chatham’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship launches program to support Pittsburgh childcare providers

The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) has partnered with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) and Invest PGH to launch an entrepreneurial training program, “The Business of Child Care.”

This 10-week intensive program is designed to launch or expand participating childcare businesses within the city of Pittsburgh. Topics covered by the program include: 

• Business planning

• Zoning and occupancy of the physical site

• Marketing and branding

• Community relationships

• Staffing and onboarding 

• Quality care and accreditations

• Compliance and navigating OCDEL and ELRC

 Participants of the program will receive:

• Tailored Child Care Curriculum

• One-on-One Coaching 

• Entrepreneurial Education & Training through CWE

• One-year membership to CWE for immersive networking opportunities

• Access to an additional $5,000 in funds through the Child Care Reinvestment in Business Program (CRiB) Forgivable Loan offered by Invest PGH

The program will admit up to 12 existing child care providers and 12 startup providers. Classes for the Fall 2021 semester started in September and run through December. Applications are closed for the Fall semester, but will be offered again in Spring of 2022. Spring classes are set to begin in February 2022. 

The Business of Child Care program is funded with the support of The PNC Foundation.

For questions or to receive more information on the program, visit https://www.chatham.edu/cwe/training/businessofchildcare/ or email Womens-Entrepreneurship@Chatham.edu or call 412-365-1253.