Pictured left to right: Rachel Raak, LSCP Community Economic Development Coordinator; Lynn Hill, Community Foundation of Marquette County; Paul Thares, LSCP Community Development Programming Coordinator; Cohen Gravedoni, Amanda's Home Daycare; Abraham Gravedoni; Amanda Gonzales-Gravedoni, Amanda's Home Daycare Owner; Jeremy Gravedoni, Amanda's Home Daycare Owner; Lauren Rotundo, LSCP Small Business Promotions Specialist; Travis Hongisto, Marquette County Ambassador; Hanna Westra, LSCP Outreach and Development Specialist.
Another graduate of Childcare SPARK has opened a daycare center, this one is located just outside of downtown Negaunee.
Amanda’s Home Daycare is owned and operated by Amanda Gonzales-Gravedoni, a recent graduate of the training program that was launched in March 2023. A business accelerator, Childcare SPARK provides participants with expertise in business development, childcare operations and childhood development to help them understand, launch, operate and grow home-based childcare businesses.
A shortage of childcare facilities has been an issue in the U.P. and across the country. Childcare SPARK is an example of how U.P. collaboration and ingenuity are helping address the issue regionally and is one of several initiatives to address the childcare shortage.
To date, Childcare SPARK has helped several graduates open daycare facilities in the U.P. Others are located in Marquette, Ishpeming and Negaunee.
After witnessing the impact of a local daycare's closure, which left many families without care options, Gonzales-Gravedoni and her family found inspiration in the Childcare SPARK program.
"I never thought the dream I had of creating a childcare center would be obtainable, but with SPARK's support, that dream turned into a reality," owner Amanda Gonzales-Gravedoni shared.
"I never thought the dream I had of creating a childcare center would be obtainable, but with SPARK’s support, that dream turned into a reality,” Gonzales-Gravedoni says.
What's happening: A recent graduate of Childcare SPARK has opened her own daycare center, Amanda’s Home Daycare, outside downtown Negaunee. The owner and primary educator is Amanda Gonzales-Gravedoni. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a certification as a mindfulness and meditation teacher.
Other graduates who have opened their daycares are: Ashley Jarvi, Tiny Turtle's Daycare LLC, in Ishpeming; Theresa Higdon, Paradise in Nature Wonderschool in Negaunee, and Lysa Stockwell, who opened Little Cubs Learning Center, LLC, in Marquette last fall.
Amanda's program: Amanda's Home Daycare provides a personalized, nurturing, and diverse childcare experience that emphasizes the uniqueness of each child. Amanda's Home Daycare believes that every child is unique. Amanda and her family prioritize independence by empowering children to explore and discover the world around them confidently. The daycare focuses on each child's uniqueness, and their bilingual program fosters creativity through music and arts. Amanda’s Home Daycare offers full-time enrollments and drop-in care. Children ages six weeks to three and a half years are welcome. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
"Our mission is to offer individualized early childhood education through research-backed curricula, tools, and techniques," Gonzales-Gravedoni says. "We focus on each child's physical, emotional, social, and academic development, ensuring they receive the highest quality of care in a safe, pet-friendly, and welcoming atmosphere."
What is SPARK: Childcare SPARK is a collaborative effort of several organizations under the umbrella of the Lake Superior Community Partnership. The program combines expertise in business development, childcare operations and childhood development under a business accelerator model to help interested entrepreneurs understand, launch, operate and grow home-based childcare businesses. The goal is to help establish new childcare businesses throughout Marquette County to help families the care they need so they can remain or re-enter the workforce.
Childcare SPARK is now a hybrid/on-demand program, and participants can complete the program online at their own pace. Organizers found that the initial 12-week commitment to in-person classes was difficult for participants. In addition, those graduates said more than 12 weeks of training was needed.
A candidate is now enrolled in the hybrid model, which is available on Google Classroom and includes recorded PowerPoints and homework. Following the online learning, participants meet in person with someone from the SPARK program to make sure they understand the content and ask any questions. Participants work one on one with a mentor and receive resource books as well.
Funding: Childcare SPARK is funded by the State of Michigan Equity Fund and an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation from the Marquette County Commission.
Freelance writer Jason M. Karel occasionally writes for Rural Innovation Exchange and UPword Michigan.
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