GrowSmart supports the early education businesses and professionals, which are largely female-owned small businesses. In 2010, GrowSmart collaborated with the Small Business Development Center and created an innovative business class for early care and education professionals. This award‐winning program was developed by business consultant and early education industry expert Lauren Small. The SBDC Early Education Business Program is similar to a mini MBA program and consists of three major components:
The Early Education Business Program provides early education businesses the knowledge, understanding and tools they need to operate a sustainable and profitable small business. The success of the year-long course is attributed to providing a combination of industry-specific small business management training as well as the intensive one‐on‐one mentoring.
Read Brenda Soto's Story - owner of Making a Difference Step by Step, a Virginia Beach small business and graduate of the Early Education Business Program.
Listen to Erika Campfield’s Story – owner of Amberley Childcare, a Virginia Beach small business and 2016 graduate of the Early Education Business Program.