WEV Selected for National Childcare Accelerator Program

WEV Selected for National Childcare Accelerator Program to Support Homebased Childcare Providers in Ventura County

Santa Barbara, CA — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is proud to announce its selection as one of only seven Women’s Business Centers nationwide to participate in the newly launched AWBC x Stearns Childcare Accelerator Program. This honor highlights WEV’s role as a regional leader in addressing the childcare crisis and advancing economic equity for underserved entrepreneurs.

Launched by the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) and funded by an $875,000 commitment from Stearns Bank, the accelerator program aims to help licensed childcare providers overcome systemic barriers, expand capacity, and strengthen long-term sustainability.

As part of this initiative, the program will offer hands-on training and $10,000 in funding to ten licensed childcare providers in Ventura County in Fall 2025.

“This award recognizes WEV’s deep-rooted commitment to supporting small business owners who are also essential community care providers,” said Ashley Goldstein, Director of Programs at WEV. “We are honored to be selected and eager to expand our impact by equipping local childcare entrepreneurs— with the tools and resources they need to thrive.”

The need for childcare support in Ventura County is urgent. According to data from Child Development Resources (CDR), only 37% of the county’s children ages 0–5 can be served by the existing licensed care supply. The crisis is particularly severe for infants and toddlers, where the licensed care gap is even greater. This shortfall limits parents’ ability to work and participate in the economy—particularly women—and places enormous pressure on local families. WEV’s program responds to this critical need by investing directly in the providers who are building a more equitable and sustainable childcare system from the ground up.

The WEV Childcare Accelerator, launching Fall 2025, will:

• Deliver bilingual business training tailored to home-based, licensed childcare providers.
• Offer 1:1 technical assistance focused on financial management and growth.
• Award $10,000 each to ten Ventura County providers to expand their operations and increase access to care for local families.

###

About Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), www.wevonline.org

WEV is a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic empowerment through entrepreneurship. WEV offers training, consulting, and funding to help launch and grow small businesses throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. In the last five years, WEV’s programs have helped launch or expand 1,495 local small businesses, supported 4,077 jobs, generated $167 million in sales, and contributed $14.2 million in local tax revenue. For every $1 donated to WEV, $15 is returned to the local economy.

For more information, visit www.wevonline.org or follow @wevonline on social media.