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Advantage Valley 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 6th 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.
Each 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.
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