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Upwards Care asks for $80,000 to expand ‘Boost’ program for family childcare providers
Summary
Upwards Care requested $80,000 in CDBG funds to expand its Boost microenterprise program in Fullerton from five to ten family childcare providers, aiming to create three teaching assistant jobs and improve access for up to 140 families; members questioned local operations, licensing, insurance and performance reporting.
Melanie Fore, community impact manager at Upwards Care, presented the Boost program and requested $80,000 in CDBG funds to expand year-two operations in Fullerton.
Fore described Boost as an intensive, year-long mentorship and business-operations program for low- to moderate-income family childcare providers. Services include one-on-one mentorship with a care specialist, marketing and enrollment support, financial management coaching and provision of a childcare-management software platform. Fore said year one used $40,000 to support five providers and one teaching assistant; year two would scale to support ten providers, three teaching assistants and up to 140 families.
Committee members pressed on Upwards’ local presence: staff confirmed a local co-founder and at least one local specialist (Alex Estrada) who lives nearby and that the organization maintains a California certificate of good standing and business license where required. Members also asked about provider licensing, liability insurance and verification; Upwards said Boost works only with already-licensed providers for this program and will verify licensing and compliance during intake, and that the city already holds certificates of insurance for grantees.
On performance measures, Upwards cited internal outcomes: 30% of providers will report at least a 20% revenue increase and 30% will hire a teaching assistant; the booster program historically reported higher outcomes in other jurisdictions. Fore offered to supply local contact names and certificates of insurance and to provide additional reporting for the city’s quarterly requirements.
The committee reserved funding decisions for its May deliberations and asked staff to confirm insurance and local contact information before awards.
