The Business of Child Care is a free application-based entrepreneurial training program for start-up child care providers located within Allegheny & surrounding counties region, facilitated by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University (CWE) in collaboration with Invest PGH and Allegheny County Economic Development. The Business of Child Care program was selected by Allegheny County Economic Development to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Through an application process, up to 20 start-up child care providers will receive admission to The Business of Child Care, an intensive eight-week training program designed to prepare entrepreneurs to launch child care businesses.
The Business of Child Care participants receive:
· Tailored Child Care Business Curriculum
· One-on-One Coaching
· Entrepreneurial Education & Training through CWE
· One-year membership to CWE for immersive networking opportunities.
The Business of Child Care Program Eligibility Criteria:
· Located in Allegheny & Surrounding Counties;
· Aspires to become a full-time child care provider;
· For-Profit and Nonprofit organizations;
· An entrepreneur who will own a majority stake in a child care business and is actively involved in the business's day-to-day operations;
· Willing to complete the eight-week training program with a mix of in person and online classes;
· Willing to complete interim and final program surveys.
For entrepreneurs that launch their child care business within the City of Pittsburgh, additional resources are available including forgivable loans and below market rate term loans by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Invest PGH, who offers an industry specific forgivable loan program called Child Care Reinvestment Business Fund (CRiB). Participants will have access to URA and Invest PGH staff to discuss next steps. Learn more about CRiB here.
The Business of Child Care Program Timeline:
August 3, 2026: Application Open
August 11, 2026: Information Session. Watch the recording, HERE.
September 3, 2026: Application Close
September 11, 2026: The Business of Child Care Start-Up Cohort Finalized & Notified
September 15, 2026: Required Orientation Night (Online via Zoom), 6:00-7:00 PM
September 22, 2026: First Session for The Business of Child Care Start-up Fall Program.
The Business of Child Care Start-Up Fall Program will run on Tuesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 PM from September 22 through November 10, 2026. The program consists of three in-person sessions and five online sessions via Zoom. In-person sessions will be held on September 22, October 13, and November 10 at the Chatham University Eastside Building. Attendance at the Orientation Night and all program sessions is required. Applicants are expected to participate in every session to successfully complete the program. A Zoom-capable device and reliable internet access are required for all virtual sessions.
To view the syllabus for the Business of Child Care Start-up Program: Click Here.