Name of owner: CEO is Toni Cacace-Beshears
Year you opened for business: 1922 in Portsmouth (1911 in Norfolk)
How would you describe your business?
Children’s Harbor is a non-profit certified United Way Community Partner whose mission is to improve the lives of children and families through comprehensive quality early care and education services. Since its founding in 1911 the agency has developed into a multi-faceted organization whose goal is to operate its early childhood programs as models of excellence in child care services for infants and children of all ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds; to train child care personnel; to advocate for the well-being of young children; and to educate parents and the community on elements of quality child care and strategies to foster healthy families.
Briefly describe your typical client/customer.
Our typical clients/customers are families with children ranging in ages from 6 weeks to 12 years.
What is one thing most people do not know about your business that would surprise him/her?
Most people are not aware that we are a Nationally Accredited (NAEYC) 3 Star rated (Virginia Star Quality Initiative) facility with a tuition scholarship program that offers access to quality early care and education.
What do you enjoy most about doing business in your district/community?
We enjoy working with the diverse populations in the businesses and in our clients. We also enjoy the close-knit working relationship in Olde Towne. Businesses support each other.
What do you enjoy most about doing business in Hampton Roads?
We are proud to be able to offer quality early care and education to the community through our programs. It is rewarding to know that we are making a difference in the lives of children and families.
What challenges do you face as a business owner?
Our biggest challenge is securing financing to continue to provide quality services and to offer scholarships for families who want access to quality early care and education. We are always in need of resources – financial, competent, qualified, and experienced staff, indoor and outdoor materials and equipment, and dedicated volunteers to serve on our Board of Directors.
What’s in store for your business in the future?
We are intent on working with community partners to develop relationships for the next 100 years to support the emerging workforce. The current model for quality affordable early care and education has to have a different base of support.
What could local government do to help small business owners in your business district (besides lower taxes)?
Understand the profound affect early care and education has on economic development in the community. This comes in the form of support for the current workforce, the economic impact of the industry on the community (in 2006 Smart Beginning SHR, workforce study showed that early care and education was a $206.70 million industry that helps drive the region’s economic vitality), and the workforce benefit of quality early childhood development. Brain research and quality care have an economic rate of return of $7-$16 for every $1 invested. Providing transportation between our center and more public schools would enable more children to enroll in our program. Transportation is expensive for us and we are not always able to accommodate all of the schools in which families need our services.
What is one thing your business district needs?
Support for working families. Early care and education supports the current and future workforce.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We are celebrating our agency’s 100th Birthday this year!!! Two main events, the 10th Annual Safe Harbor Award on May 19, 2011 and the 100th Birthday Bash on June 26, 2011, are the highlights of our year-long celebration. More information can be found on our website www.childrensharbor.cc and on our Facebook page Children’s Harbor Hampton Roads.
