Hi friends!
We wanted to update the community on some news regarding our licensing journey. Miss Sarah has been working towards licensing for the better part of the past year, and has hit a large financial roadblock.
In order to be licensed in Franklin County, you must have approval from the zoning board. We have been working on our application for the last few months, and found it to be too costly to proceed for this first year. Below are a breakdown of just the costs associated with the application, with no guarantee of approval.
Zoning Application fee: $1500
Required paving of driveway: $5000
Survey of property: $1400
right of way permit: $150
Unfortunately, if we were to prioritize licensing, it would drain the majority of our start up fund. Since this is the first year of the program, we’ve decided to proceed by using our start up funds to buy and build things most beneficial to the children’s experience at the school. Once we hit full enrollment (6 kids a day), we will start a waitlist and then we will pursue the zoning application finished.
We know many quality programs that operate without a license due to the logistical and financial challenges of pursuing licensing by the state. We hope to operate in a transparent way that encourages quality and creativity, and allows children to develop healthy hearts, bodies and minds.
If you have any questions as to how any of this relates to our program, please reach out. Licensing does not monitor what we teach children at the program—so this is unrelated to the quality of the daily programming, and more so related to legality, and the state ensuring safety.
Below you will see what we have completed, and what we will still pursue this year in regards to licensing. As you can see, we have done most everything required and will continue operate as if we are licensed until we have the resources to finish the zoning application.
Required materials for Licensing Application:
Proof of passing Building inspection (still pursuing this year)
Proof of passing Fire inspection (still pursuing this year)
Commercial Property Zoning Variance (Franklin County) (pausing on due to cost)
Weather/disaster plan ✓
Emergency Plan✓
Medical Statement for childcare (proof of vaccination from provider)✓
Ajudicant Form✓
Parent Handbook✓
Diagrams of Indoor Space, Outdoor play space✓
Trainings:
Pre-licensing Training✓
CPR/First Aid✓
Management of communicable Diseases✓
Child Abuse Training✓
High school , college diploma✓
Business Plan✓
Quarterly emergency drills✓
All staff is background checked with proof of vaccination✓