How a Sidelined Small Business Dream Became a Reality in Arlington

After operating an in-home daycare center in Arlington, Tania Hendry was burnt out.

She was tired. Lonely. Caring for eight littles and two school agers had been wonderfully fulfilling, but providing that care all by herself had taken its toll.

“My mother and sisters were all working in daycare centers in Fremont and had pledged they would work for me if I opened my own. Unfortunately at the time, there just wasn't a viable location and the dream took a back seat. I eventually took a year off and worked outside the home,” she says.

Within a few months, she and her husband had a thought: if they ran the daycare together, they would offer an expanded service to kids in the area and solve her problem of working alone.

In 2016, they re-opened, caring for twelve kids. They took them to school, fed them home cooked meals from scratch, and just ran a better program in general.

“We filled our spots quickly and had a waiting list at all times,” she says. “I always felt bad having to turn people away.” 

Should We Go For It?

Nebraska law limits in-home childcare to twelve kids. And the only way for Tania and her husband to increase their capacity was to shift from an in-home setting to a dedicated facility. 

*When the only center in town decided to downsize and relocate to a smaller space, I contacted the Arlington community church and asked if they would be interested in renting it out again. They said yes,” she explains. 

The next call she made was to her sisters. Should we go look at the space just to be sure we don’t want to try and open a center?

They kept their expectations low. Until a quick walk through of the space revealed its potential. That’s when it all clicked. 

“We decided to go on this adventure together. We started with tons of research to look for help and guidance,” she says. “My sisters met with Kelsey Martinez from the Greater Fremont Development Council (GFDC) to explore grant opportunities as well as any programs available to help us get started.”

That’s When We Knew It Was Really Happening

Not long after that meeting, Kelsey contacted them about the Welstead Small Business Fund.

“GFDC saw a need for additional tools to encourage small businesses and property owners to invest in the downtown area and help create a stronger, more vibrant business district. The idea was to provide a source of financing that could help businesses take the next step when traditional financing alone might not be enough,” said Martinez, GFDC’s Director of Business Services.

The Welstead Fund doesn’t replace traditional lending. It works alongside it by filling gaps that may otherwise prevent a small business from moving forward.

“A business may have a strong plan and qualify for traditional financing but still have costs that a bank may not be able to fully cover or may be less comfortable financing,” Martinez explained. 

“It sounded like something that would be a great opportunity for us, if we could get the other half of our funding from the traditional bank loan,” says Hendry. 

Which they got, through RVR Bank.

“That’s when we knew it was really happening,” she adds. 

A Positive Impact With A Ripple Effect

Tania and her family used the Welstead Fund to make renovations to the new space. 

They built an office, changed out the entry door, purchased the tables, chairs, napping cots, and storage cabinets. 

They bought office supplies, and technology items. Made repairs to the fence outside and landscaped with mulch. 

Legacy Early Learning Academy in Arlington now proudly serves kiddos aged 18 months to 12 years. They also partner with their sister center, Kid Keep'r (conveniently located next door), which cares for infants and toddlers ages 6 weeks to 18 months.

“I’ve always believed that being in the daycare business was considered a community servant type job. It is incredibly challenging but equally rewarding,” says Hendry. “Being a fourth generation educator (with several of our children already thriving as teachers) it’s what we were meant to do.”

Those rewards had a ripple effect on the entire community.

“In Legacy’s case, the investment is also helping address the need for quality child care, an issue that directly affects families, employees, and the ability of other local businesses to recruit and retain their workforce,” said Martinez.

It also proved that economic development doesn’t always need large scale projects or major corporate investments to make an impact. 

Funding Is Available for the Next Small Business!

From the GFDC’s perspective, a successful Welstead loan goes beyond simply receiving repayment.

“We want to see the loan serve as a catalyst for something that may not have happened otherwise. Whether that is helping an entrepreneur open a business, allowing an established business to grow, creating or retaining jobs, increasing the products or services available in the community, or helping a business make a larger investment in its future,” she added.

For Hendry, Legacy Early Learning Academy represents a dream that finally came true.

“I was always scared that I wouldn’t be able to provide for my family being self employed but somehow it has always worked out. Being partnered with my sisters and bringing my mother out of retirement is truly a blessing. With over 150 years of combined experience, we hope to build a Legacy that our future generations will continue on,” she said.

Contact the Greater Fremont Development Council to learn more about how the Welstead Fund can help you launch something amazing!