Making longtime personal connections with children in her care is just one of the numerous positive aspects which drew the single mother of three children to own a modern daycare center. For 14 years, Miss Carrie operated Creative Kids Connection from her home in Davenport. When her enrollment swelled from seven kids to 30 and there was a waiting list, she knew she needed more space. One of her first moves was to contact the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Central Florida Development Council in Bartow. 

“I felt very comfortable dealing with the Small Business Development Center because one its previous directors had been to my home several times over the years offering me advice,” said the blue-eyed brunette. “The staff was very easy to work with, as well as being very patient and detail-oriented. They helped me a lot. The SBDC has been my safety net.”

Most recently, Miss Carrie worked with Certified Business Analyst Adrienne Darby, who assisted her with cash flow projections for new business anticipated at her licensed child care facility and her business plan, even to the point of helping her with daily menus for food served at the daycare center!

Miss Carrie realized in the second grade she wanted to be a teacher of elementary school-aged children. She was determined to make her vision a reality as she attended Nova Southeastern University and earned her Child Development Associate’s Degree and Florida Director’s Credentials while rearing three young children and running her home daycare center.

Creative Kids Connection employs seven teachers who tend to and instruct children ranging from six-month- old infants to 12-year-old pre-teens at the daycare center. Housed in a facility adjoining a non-denominational church, the center has a backyard play area and its 4,600 square feet of leased space inside is clean and brightly festooned with the colorful art and happy handiwork of creative little ones. The young instructors teach voluntary pre-kindergarten and the daycare offers a food program subsidized by the state of Florida.

“The challenges of operating a daycare center include keeping up with rapidly changing government regulations,” the owner said, “and the rewards center around watching familiar families mature.”

“Some families have been with me for nine years,” she said. “It’s wonderful watching child after child from the same family come here. It is a special blessing to see the different personalities evolve.”

Miss Carrie, who has an infectious smile that charms children and adults alike, would eventually like to purchase her own building to house her daycare facility.

“My business has grown one step at a time,” she said. “I have plans to open another daycare. When the time is right, I am comforted knowing the SBDC is just a phone call away.”

 To participate in the network, the business must be located and the business owner must reside in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas or Polk Counties. The business must be certified as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Service Disabled Veteran Enterprise (SDVE) or Women or Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) with the Cities of Tampa or St. Petersburg or by Hillsborough or Pinellas Counties.

 The Republican National Convention will convene August 27 – 30, 2012. To prepare small businesses for this opportunity, the host committee will hold the first of two information forums about the Small Business Network in January. At that time, on-line registration for local small businesses desiring to participate in the program will open.

 It is anticipated that an On-line Business Directory of participating businesses will be created as a result of the Small Business Network participating businesses.

 Polk County’s Small Business Development Center will stay abreast of news about the small Business Network. Business owners may also access information here.

Starting in July, a representative from the SBDC will be located at the following Polk County Chambers of Commerce and USF Poly Blue Sky Incubator (East and West locations):

Lakeland Chamber-1st & 3rd Tuesday (read more)

Haines City Chamber – 3rd Tuesday  (read more)

Frostproof Chamber – 2nd Wednesday  (read more)

Lake Wales Chamber – 3rd Wednesday  (read more)

Winter Haven Chamber – 1st & 3rd Thursday (read more)

USF Poly Blue Sky Incubator (Lakeland)- 2nd Thursday (beginning Oct 13) (read more)

USF Poly Blue Sky Incubator (Winter Haven) - 4th Tuesday (beginning Oct 25) (read more)

To take advantage of the business counseling, interested persons should contact the the Small Business Development Center directly at (863) 534.5915 to schedule an appointment.

• Employers
• Tax professionals
• Attorneys
• Payroll professionals
• Industry partners
• Small businesses

  For more information, or to register,click here.