Minnesota Small Business Development Centers Partner with First Children’s Finance to Support Minnesota’s Child Care Industry

St. Paul – Under a partnership agreement announced today, First Children’s Finance will operate as the first statewide satellite center in the Minnesota Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Network – providing specialized business and financial assistance to child care businesses across Minnesota at no cost to the businesses. Minnesota SBDC is part of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

“Without access to affordable child care, parents can’t earn a living, businesses can’t recruit reliable workers, and children miss out on early educational opportunities,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “This has never been more apparent than during the pandemic – and we look forward to First Children’s Finance and the SBDC Network helping to increase the number of child care providers in Minnesota and improving their success as businesses.”

“This is historic in that we’ve never created a statewide satellite center before in the SBDC Network,” said Bruce Strong, SBDC State Director. “Now anyone – anywhere in the state – who needs help with creating a new child care center or improving operations in an existing one will have access to the combined expertise of SBDC business consultants and experts from First Children’s Finance who specialize in consulting and financing specifically in the child care industry, all at no cost to them.”

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