by GCDC | Apr 1, 2021 | Events
Looking for a career where you can truly make a difference today and for the future? Early childhood education is one of the most important and impactful careers. Professionals who work in childcare facilities have the opportunity to make a difference in young lives and also influence future generations.
To help you get started in your childcare career, Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) and United Way of Green Way have partnered to offer a free, daylong training event. Safety Saturday is an online workshop that will help fulfill the health and safety requirements needed to work in a childcare program. Attendees completing the Safety Saturday class will earn credits toward their childcare credentials, and will be guaranteed an interview for an available position with a Green County childcare provider. Training will also be provided in Spanish.
Training will include: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training (CPR), Sudden Infant Death Prevention Syndrome (SIDS), Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect, Preventing Abusive Head Trauma, and a review of licensing rules and regulations and next steps for working in the childcare industry. Taken separately, these classes would cost more than $100.
Safety Saturday will be provided online from 8 am to 5 pm on May 1. Training is provided free of charge for those who intend to work in a Green County childcare facility. Pre-registration is required and spots are limited to the first 20 who sign up; a waiting list will be offered for the possibility of future classes.
The link to register online can be found on GCDC’s website at www.greenedc.com. Call GCDC at 608-328-9452 or email [email protected] for more information.
Other Ways to Support Local Childcare Facilities
Research has shown that the most rapid period of brain development is from birth to age 5. Early childhood educators have the very important job of working with children during this rapid developmental phase.
The lack of childcare in Green County has been an issue for some time, and COVID-19 has brought it to the forefront. If we want to ensure our current and future workforce, now is the time to take steps to grow quality childcare in Green County.
GCDC has teamed up with United Way of Green County on these current grant-funded initiatives:
- Childcare Business Boot Camp
- Safety Saturday
- Mental health consultation for 12 Green County childcare businesses
- Monthly professional development opportunities specifically for childcare providers and their families
- Professional mentoring to match experienced providers with newer childcare entrepreneurs
What is still needed:
- Scholarships for graduates of Childcare Boot Camp Class
- Signing bonuses for graduates of Safety Saturday who are hired by a Green County childcare facility
- Bonuses for facilities that increase their Youngstar rating
- Bonuses for staff retention
- Scholarships for Credentials and further education
Childcare is essential for our children, our families, our workforce, and our communities. If you would like more information, or if you would like to help support the childcare initiative for our communities, contact Teresa Keehn at United Way of Green County at (608) 325-7747 or [email protected], or Cara Carper at GCDC at (608) 328-9452 or [email protected].
by GCDC | Jan 20, 2021 | News
Through instruction, guest speakers and coaching, the Childcare Boot Camp is designed to help new childcare business owners in Green County chart their course to success. It equally benefits existing childcare business owners looking to improve or grow. Virtual classes (available in Spanish) will be held Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm, starting March 2. Classes are free.
Start and Grow Your Business
You have a dream to own a thriving, successful business. With our Childcare Boot Camp, you’ll have the knowledge, tools and resources to make your dream a reality. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for a while, we’ll show you how you can grow your childcare business. You’ll learn how to advance along each step of the way, learning key insights into your industry. By the conclusion of the course, you’ll have a viable business plan and the essential business skills you’ll need for the future. (Additional courses may be required for licensing.)
What you will get:
- Weekly classes focusing on essential topics
- Individual planning with professional business consultants
- Networking with presenters and classmates
Childcare Boot Camp’s unique format offers participants three key features:
- Evening classes meet weekly for eight weeks.
- Individual business planning, with the help of childcare business consultants, results in a high-quality business plan.
- Networking with presenters and classmates allows participants an opportunity to share and grow.
Information You Need
The Childcare Boot Camp covers a wide variety of topics, giving you a solid foundation in all aspects of running your childcare business. We bring together specialists in a broad array of pertinent subject areas to present relevant, timely information in their respective fields.
Safety Saturday Held May 1
Safety Saturday is a daylong workshop that will provide the education needed for a person to work in a childcare facility. Training will include:
- First Aid
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training (CPR)
- Training on Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
- Training on Preventing Abusive Head Trauma
- Review of licensing rules and regulations
Childcare Bootcamp plus Safety Saturday (plus one-on-one business coaching) will get an entrepreneur a long way toward their childcare license. To earn their license, they will also need technical college credits, a background check and health screening.
To keep momentum with our entrepreneurs, we will provide one-on-one business consulting for entrepreneurs (without required coursework) who graduate from Boot Camp class and want to provide legal, unregulated childcare as a bridge to their licensing. (In Wisconsin, an entrepreneur can provide legal, unregulated care if they are providing care for three children or fewer.)
Space in these classes is limited. If space is available, participants from counties neighboring Green County will be offered an opportunity to register. Sign up now at https://greencountydevelopment.com/ or call 608.328.9452.
by GCDC | Nov 9, 2020 | Events
Virtual Event Set For Dec. 2
MONROE – Childcare is essential for our families, our workforce, and our community. Access to high quality childcare and enriching experiences and interactions are critical for our children for their academic, social and emotional development. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on childcare services in our communities.
Quality childcare as a workforce priority will be the topic of Green County Development Corporation’s (GCDC) annual Executive Leadership Breakfast. This year’s Executive Leadership Breakfast, set for 7:45 to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, will be virtual, with participants joining via a Zoom link. The featured speaker will be Rob Grunewald, economist with the Community Development Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The event is free and open to the public.
Why does childcare matter? The link among access to childcare, parental employment, and overall economic growth is becoming more apparent all the time. Businesses rely on their employees, and their employees rely on access to childcare. When problems with childcare arise, parents must scramble to find alternative options ¾ or miss work to care for their children.
For Green County parents, that can translate to working fewer hours, taking a pay cut, or leaving their jobs altogether. Likewise, our business community is harmed by their employees’ childcare challenges. Nationally, the cost of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue due to the childcare crisis totals an estimated $57 billion each year.
GCDC and the United Way of Green County have teamed up to address critical childcare needs. They are encouraging businesses to offer financial assistance to help provide support and resources to childcare providers in Green County. More information on this initiative will be shared at the Executive Leadership Breakfast event and is available online at greencountyedc.com.
While there is no cost to participate, pre-registration for the Executive Leadership Breakfast is requested. Send name and e-mail to [email protected]. Log-in information will be sent a week prior to the event.
GCDC, a multi-jurisdictional economic development corporation, was formed to bring professional economic development expertise to its member communities to create a competitive advantage to spur job creation and new investments. The organization is building the economic future of Green County communities and businesses through public-private partnerships. For more information, visit GCDC at online at www.greencountyedc.com.
by GCDC | Oct 14, 2020 | News
By Cara Carper
Executive Director, Green County Development Corporation
Now, more than ever, we are better together. These words are truer now than ever before. Green County is an amazing community and we have always found ways to come together and support each other. The current pandemic has required us to take a hard look at the entire community, assess the needs, develop an action plan, and most importantly, work to take action on the things that are most important. The time is now, and the need is childcare!
We know that childcare is essential for our families, our workforce, and our community. We also know that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on childcare services in our communities. We know that access to high quality childcare and enriching experiences and interactions are critical for our children, not only for academic development, but for social and emotional development as well.
There is growing awareness of the links among access to childcare, parental employment, and overall economic growth. Businesses rely on employees, and employees rely on childcare. When problems with childcare arise, parents must scramble to find alternative options – or miss work to care for their children. For Green County parents, that insecurity can mean working fewer hours, taking a pay cut, or leaving their jobs altogether. Meanwhile, our businesses lose money annually because of their employees’ childcare challenges. Nationally, the cost of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue due to the childcare crisis totals an estimated $57 billion each year.
That is why working together to address our childcare needs is so critical right now. It is important that we work to address our current needs and work toward solutions to help sustain and improve our services.
To help address the significant need in Green County for high quality childcare services, United Way of Green County and Green County Development Corporation have teamed up to:
- Support our licensed childcare providers to help them stay in business and make their businesses stronger.
- Provide support and resources to help unregulated providers become licensed, if they choose to.
- Increase the number of licensed childcare facilities in Green County by helping people who want to start their own childcare business build a strong, sustainable business (providing business planning resources, mentors and funding to get started).
- Increase the quality of services by providing resources and support for existing childcare providers by funding things like professional development and training and looking at collaborative ways to expand early childhood services.
- Provide funding for technology needs, protective and sanitization materials, and other classroom supplies.
- Provide incentives and bonus compensation for hiring and retaining highly qualified childcare providers.
We need your help!
If you are able to donate financially, we have established a fund with the sole purpose of providing additional resources and support to childcare providers in Green County. The fund is designed to expand local capacity to address the significant childcare needs in Green County and to do so as collaboratively and efficiently as possible. If you are able to donate supplies, a list of needs will be located on the United Way of Green County website.
If we want to ensure our future workforce, now is the time to take steps to grow quality childcare in Green County. By working collaboratively to address community issues, we can do what no one person or organization can do alone. Together we can make our community stronger!
To donate:
- Text CARE4KIDS to 91999
- Donate through the United Way of Green County website at org
- Send checks with CHILDCARE written on the subject line to:
United Way of Green County
P.O. Box 511
Monroe, WI 53566
If you have questions, please contact: Teresa Keehn at United Way of Green County at (608) 325-7747 or [email protected], or Cara Carper at GCDC at (608) 328-9452 or [email protected].
Teresa Keehn | Executive Director Cara Carper | Executive Director
United Way of Green County, Inc. Green County Development Corporation
1717 10th Street | Monroe, WI 53566 1016 16th Avenue | Monroe, WI 53566
(608) 325-7747 | [email protected] (608) 328-9452 | [email protected]
by GCDC | Mar 24, 2020 | News
Learn more about Green County Development Corporation by reading our Annual Report. Click below:
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
2018 Annual Report
