REDCO Provides Affordable Loan, Grant Funding to a Home-Based Childcare for Expansion to Increase Access to Quality Childcare
Rochester Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion and grand opening of “The Little People’s Lounge” project.
The dedication will take place on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 10:15 a.m. at the new childcare center located at 178 Campbell St, Rochester, NY 14611. A tour of the new facility will immediately follow the ceremony.
Tamara Kelley-Radcliffe, Owner and Founder of The Little People’s Lounge, brings over 23 years of childcare expertise. Starting as a home-based childcare provider business in 2001, her services expanded to benefit the families of infants, toddlers, and school age children. Driven by her commitment to personal growth, she earned Associate and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Early Childhood Education and Teaching from SUNY Empire State College in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Her training provided her the momentum and skills to grow her childcare business.
In July of 2017, Kelley-Radcliffe identified and purchased property at 178 Campbell Street, envisioning it as an ideal location for expansion and a solution to the scarcity of childcare facilities in the community.
Notably, the new facility is located within a Childcare Desert, as indicated by the Center for American Progress’s interactive map (childcaredeserts.org). This term identifies census tracts with no licensed childcare providers or so few options for children in need of care. This affects a significant portion of people living in New York (64%), particularly those from low- and middle-income households, as well as Hispanic, and rural communities.
With expanded capacity of 20 child slots, up from 12, the new facility paves the way for more families seeking quality childcare. As a result, the center created four new jobs including a food service provider and three dedicated teachers specialized in working with preschool and school-age children. “Quality childcare is essential for families and our local economy,” says Dr. Lomax R. Campbell, Interim CEO of REDCO. “It ensures children develop in a safe environment, allows more residents to participate in the workforce, and supports a thriving business community. I am so proud of Tamara for taking the leap of faith by investing in her dream.”
