LIIF leaders were in Virginia this week to pay a visit to Jackson Child Care, an early care and education (ECE) provider beneficiary of the Family Child Care Business Accelerator Program, made possible by support from PNC Grow Up Great.

For more than 30 years, Jackson Child Care has provided high-quality, relationship-based early learning for preschool-aged children, preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond. Recognized across Virginia for its commitment to quality and innovation, Ms. Jackson is a respected leader in the early childhood field, serving as a mentor, trainer, and advocate. Her contributions include service on Fairfax County advisory boards and recognition as the 2014 Lady of Fairfax for her longstanding commitment to children and families.

In 2025, Monica participated in the Family Child Care Business Accelerator Program, made possible by support from PNC Grow Up Great, where she worked alongside a cohort of fellow providers to strengthen her business. She found the combination of practical business tools, peer learning, and relationship-building especially valuable, describing the experience as empowering and transformative. The process encouraged her to think beyond day-to-day operations to long-term sustainability, branding, leadership and strategic partnerships that benefit both her program and the broader family child care profession.

The Family Child Care Business Accelerator is designed to help family child care (FCC) providers strengthen their businesses so they can deliver high-quality early learning experiences while building financially sustainable programs.

Family child care providers operate licensed, home-based small businesses that typically serve up to 12 children and manage annual operating budgets ranging from approximately $30,000 to $200,000. More than 80% of FCC businesses are owned and operated by women. Investing in business capacity is critical because the long-term supply of high-quality family child care depends on providers having the skills and financial stability needed to sustain and grow their businesses.

The Accelerator equips FCC providers with practical business management and operational skills that strengthen program quality, improve financial sustainability, and increase long-term viability. Participants earn professional development credit hours while completing a curriculum grounded in the Business Administration Scale (BAS), a nationally recognized framework designed specifically for family child care. Through targeted training and assessment, providers strengthen key business and professional practices that support both high-quality care and strong business operations.