What We Do
Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC), a program of Zero to Five Montana, supports the start, stability, viability, and expansion of high-quality, early childcare businesses in Montana and helps cultivate child care business stability and sustainability.
Montana Child Care Business Connect provides comprehensive support to child care businesses across the state. Our strategy involves a combination of one-on-one support and group programs specifically designed to address the unique needs of child care providers.
One-on-one support is a cornerstone of our approach. We understand that every child care business is unique, facing its own set of challenges and opportunities. That’s why we offer personalized, individualized guidance and support to providers. Our team of experts works closely with each business, conducting thorough assessments to identify areas for growth and improvement. Through one-on-one consultations, we provide tailored strategies, resources, and mentorship to help businesses thrive.
If interested in our no-charge one-on-one support, email our Business Advisor, Jason Nitschke (jasonn@zerotofive.org).
In addition to one-on-one support, we also offer group programs that foster collaboration and shared learning. We understand the value of connecting child care professionals to exchange ideas, best practices, and experiences. Our group programs include workshops, trainings, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities. Through these programs, child care providers can build strong relationships with their peers, learn from each other’s successes and challenges, and collectively enhance the quality of care provided in their communities.
Connect’s Business Accelerator Mentorship Program is a comprehensive initiative designed to support child care business owners in Montana. Through the program, entrepreneurs are connected with experienced mentors who offer valuable insights and strategies to fuel the growth of their businesses. Zero to Five Montana recognizes that running a child care business can be challenging, and this mentorship program offers personalized guidance and support to meet the specific needs of each participant.
The mentors in this program provide a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise to help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, identify opportunities, and optimize the operations of their businesses. The program offers a supportive environment for entrepreneurs to network, share ideas, and learn from each other’s successes and challenges. Together, the community of child care entrepreneurs work to pave the way for a bright future for Montana’s children and families.
To learn more about our mentorship program, email our Child Care Business Advisor, Kendra Edlin (kendrae@zerotofive.org).
At Montana Child Care Business Connect, we understand the importance of collaborative work in achieving our mission. We recognize that each community has its unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities, and we tailor our approach accordingly. Through gathering and analyzing data specific to each community, we can better understand the needs and priorities of child care providers and develop targeted strategies to support their success.
With our Community Capacity Building program, the goal is to engage communities in identifying solutions to increase the supply of high quality affordable child care. This is done through mobilizing community members and empowering the creation of community-based solutions (by preserving existing child care businesses and adding new child care slots).
Community participants work together to evaluate, enhance, establish, and expand existing and/or new child care programs.
Our work goes beyond providing resources and information. We aim to create a sense of unity and shared purpose among all stakeholders. By facilitating connections between child care providers, employers, and community partners, we promote collaboration and encourage the exchange of ideas and best practices. We believe that by working together, we can strengthen the child care sector and create an environment where every child thrives.
To learn more about the community capacity-building program, click here or email Community Navigator Shelby Whelan (shelbyw@zerotofive.org).
One-On-One Support
Schedule a Business Consultation
with Senior Child Care Business Advisor Jason Nitschke
Jason joined Zero to Five Montana in 2022 as Senior Child Care Business Advisor after eight years in economic development as Vice President with the Great Falls Development Authority (GFDA) and Regional Director of the Great Falls area Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
He coaches, counsels, advises, and trains starting, growing, expanding, and stabilizing child care businesses with the business elements of running a licensed child care program in Montana.
Schedule a Community Consultation
with Community Navigator Shelby Whelan
Shelby is a people-person who is excited to continue her community development work as the Community Navigator for Montana Child Care Business Connect. She helped develop and implement community-led projects related to children and families, facilitated a handful of early childhood coalitions and committees, received the 2022 Moving Mountains award, and became invested in the need for early childhood systems change in Montana.
Meeting demand
Montana Child Care Business Connect (MCCBC) supports the start, stability, viability, and expansion of high-quality, early child care businesses in Montana and helps cultivate child care business stability and sustainability.
Our theory of change
