Arts Education in 3D!

Think about how math surrounds you every day from cooking, getting dressed, banking, to traveling. Integrating the arts allows educators to take math off the printed page and make it 3D. The incorporation of arts education into a Childcare Center or Afterschool Program’s daily lesson plans will keep students engaged and reveal hidden talents! Although there are many highly noted professionals within the industry today’s highlight is Wolf Trap and Preschool of the Arts Inc.

Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts integrates arts-based learning strategies that enhance the early childhood curriculum and providing engaging, effective professional development for early childhood educators. Professional development workshop Math in Motion allows teachers to explore and support math fundamentals and concepts in the early childhood curriculum through dance and movement. Take a look at the video below:

Preschool of the Arts, Inc.

Preschool of the Arts Inc. is childcare facility located in Connecticut and everything this facility does and offers is dedicated to the growth and development of the student and their support systems creativity. With this awesome program the students gain the independent thinking skills to carry them throughout their life’s journey, discover new things about the world around them through music, art projects, creative movement and dance programs.

Highlights

• §  Literacy Night with guest speakers who discuss methods that the parents can use to increase their children's interest and skills in reading.
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• §  Family Music Night is a joint effort between the students and adults to make music and participate in many awesome movement activities.
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• §  Art Night is designed for the families to create their very own work of art with their child. 

Daycare Financing

If your looking to finance a childcare but your credit just won’t get it First Children’s Finance is a company that can make your dreams come true! First Children’s Finance provides training, business-development assistance, workshops & seminars for in marketing, business plans, software applications, business reference library, access to attorneys and CPAs, and free confidential and individualized one-on-one consulting.

This company provides capital and business-development assistance to childcare businesses to expand or start child care either within a home or building to improve the quality of the facility, purchase a new building, add on, remodel or upgrade. If you need to purchase supplies, equipment, fulfill licensing requirements, manage cash flow or simply strengthen or grow your childcare business they will provide for that as well. Loan amounts range from $1,000 to $125,000.  Take a look at the list of requirements below.

Requirements

• Located in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Texas
• Own or lease the child care facility
• Be licensed by the appropriate state agency, or show that you will become licensed as a result of the loan
• Be prepared to provide collateral and make an equity investment in the business
• Currently serve, or be prepared to serve, children whose families qualify to receive childcare assistance

Other Companies

The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) assists underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding businesses. Opportunity Finance Network® (OFN) can connect your business to a national network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). They have a track record of originating more than $23.2 billion in financing in urban, rural, and Native communities.

Alternative financing has its disadvantages; many lending companies are unregulated by federal or state governments, and generally conduct business in any way they want to. Although the lenders have flexibility policies, you may find yourself in a sticky situation challenging with the way they conduct business.

What Angel Investors Want

Since my last post I decided to make a change and work backwards! When writing a business plan many entrepreneurs start at the beginning of their plan a work through it piece by piece, but according to the Angel Investor Rob Moss the ability to implement and execute comes from starting at the exit strategy and working backwards. According to an article on business planning structures investors want to see a clear exit strategy and a way to make a profit so they can move on to the next deal.

My Life Lesson!

Incorporating the principal of beginning with the end result in mind allows me to execute my business plan at an accelerated pace. Researching our competition through trade publications and knowing what companies in our industry are doing well and how we are different is key. Trade publications provide important information on industry trends, by utilizing this information it has allowed us to strategically plan beyond the first five-year of business. Taking the advice of the Angel Investor Panel from the previous post, we’ve incorporated a long-term plan with the consideration of how our customer base may change in the next 10 to 15 years. Clearly defining how we are different from our competitors lowers investor’s risks. According to ehow facts Angel Investors look for differentiating factors in a company because it this demonstrates a strong chance of returning five to ten times of their initial investment within three to seven years. 

What’s Important?

When it comes to an investor reading a business plan the most important sections are the financials, management team, and exit strategy! It is important for investors to feel comfortable with your knowledge of the industry, business experience as well as that of your management team. The New York Times has an article that goes into detail on how small businesses fail because of a weak management team. Investors want to see realistic financial projections that show how long it will take for the business to show a profit and for them to recoup their initial investment. 

Angel Investor's Dream Company

The Funding Post asked four Angel Investors to describe what they are looking for in a company prior to investing in them. W. Jay Lovelace wants the company to understand their target market. Rob Moss looks for a company that is executing their business plan. Dwaine Canova is interested in how strong the entrepreneur’s financial pro forma plan is. Canova believes that an entrepreneur cannot properly grow a business unless they understand the financials and the actions of the management team impacts the bottom line.  John Mascarenas looks for companies who understand their industry trends and growth potential. Key points of each investors discussion is listed below:

Key Points

• Company’s growth potential
• 18 month revenue projections plan
• Solid business plan with an exit strategy of 36 to 48 months
• Starting to execute their business plan at an accelerated pace
• Business plan has an exit strategy of 36 to 48 months
• Beginning revenue
• Strong and fun management team with creativity

Angel Investor Bio's

W. Jay LovelacePrincipal, WJL Investments

W. Jay Lovelace is an angel investor as well as the Principal of WJL Investments. Prior to his retirement he was the Vice President and General Manager for Honeywell's Satellite Systems a high tech electronic company that produced $150 million annual in the aerospace industry.  Lovelace holds a bachelor's degree in General Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of South Florida.

Rob MossGeneral Partner, Kingdom Venture Partners

Robert J. "Rob" Moss, CCA (Certified Capital Advisor / Certified Charity Advisor) currently a General Partner of Kingdom Venture Partners, LP and was a founding principal of the Capital Consortium ten company. financings in 2004 totaling $25 million in private funding. Moss is the youngest professional awarded a membership in International Mergers & Acquisitions, Inc., and was inducted into the International Who's Who of Investment Banking, and the Who's Who of Information Technology.  Moss received his Associate degrees in Medical Studies and Business Administration from Iowa State University in 1987, and a Bachelors of Science in Community Health in 1989, certificates in Financial Service Industry, and a Masters degree.

Dwaine CanovaCEO, Veracson

Dwaine Canova works with banks, venture capital funds, angel funds, and other financial institutions to fund service, manufacturing, technology, and industrial products. Canova's book Overcoming the Four Deceptions in Career Relationships provides techniques for entrepreneurs to be  more effective within their industry. Canova holds an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a BS in Agronomy from Fresno State.

John MascarenasDirector of Strategic Investment, Intel Capital

John Mascarenas is a Senior Investment Manager at Intel Capital’s Strategic Investment Group Department where he directs investments in Intel's in Digital Enterprise sector. Mascarenas is directly involved in over 45 private equity transactions that total $1billion! Prior to his reign at Intel Mascarenas was also involved in several new technology startup ventures for Intel and personally started and sold two private companies. Mascarenas holds industrial design patents in digital imaging.

Afterschool Program Help!

Afterschool programs invest time in the personal growth and development of your child by engaging them in meaningful activities. The trick is finding a program that will fit the needs of your child and the family budget!

Help with Childcare
Afterschool programs may be a bit hidden due a partnership with another program that is larger. The Afterschool Alliance suggests that parents try looking at community centers, settlement houses, and community learning centers, full-service schools, museums and libraries. Childcare facilities with afterschool programs within them may be categorized as an “Extended Learning Center” or “Supplemental Educational Service”.  Thinking outside the box will lead you in checking into some of the art councils within your community or the local youth employment programs.

The federal government has an active database for local youth afterschool programs, all you have to do is put your zip code in. School districts in Houston have a lot of resources on afterschool programming, be sure to ask the principals, counselors, and teachers about 21st Century Community Learning Centers program or visit their website or this strong resource that provides help Child Care Aware. KidSource Online by Wendy Schwartz has an awesome guide for choosing an afterschool program, the tips below came from her article.


Childcare Facility Questions

• Is the afterschool program in a safe and clean environment? 
• Is there enough space for activities and quiet time? 
• Are the rest rooms adequate? 
• Are nutritional snacks or meals provided? 

• Do the activities look exciting and challenging? 
• Are they age-appropriate? 
• Are the participants having fun as well as learning? 

• Can children come before school and on holidays as well as in the afternoon? 
• Is there an extra fee for that? 
• Is there a late fee if you must pick up your children after the program is over? 

• Can children attend only a few times a week instead of every day? 

• Are there extra fees for trips, personal tutoring, and lessons?