Loan Fund Staff Sees The “Fire” In Detroit-Area Child Care Business Owner

After starting an in-home child care business in 2015, Yolanda Massey knew that she had to find a way to serve even more children. 

She loved caring for children from different backgrounds and diverse ethnicities. She would take the children on walks through the neighborhood to visit parks and playgrounds. She taught them phonics, colors, numbers, and so many more things that helped them grow. 

When the children got older and were ready to move on, she started with another group of children. Life was good. Then COVID-19 changed everything.

She shut down her business for 18 months during the pandemic. But she didn’t stop dreaming about opening up a child care center. She used that time to learn more about child care as a profession, taking numerous classes from First Children’s Financial about how to manage during COVID to bookkeeping, financial planning, and hiring staff. 

“I took a lot of classes from First Children’s Finance on topics that really helped my professional development, “Yolanda said. “The classes really helped me deal with everything going on at the time while also planning for my future.” 

When the pandemic lifted, she was ready to go. She pursued and received grants from the City of Detroit and a business loan from the federal government. She also received a forgivable loan from the First Children’s Finance Loan Fund. 

These funds made it possible to purchase a building and build her dream: Hooked on Books Childcare in Detroit, MI, opened in 2023. 

It took 2 ½ years to get the building ready with a new kitchen, new roof, play areas for children, parking for parent pickup and dropoff and much more. 

“Money was the biggest challenge,” Yolanda said. “When I did find the building opportunity, I had to put together the resources. It took a year to really find the funds to get started.” 

During that time, she met First Children’s Finance Senior Business Development Specialist Joan Berntson, who works with FCF’s Loan Fund. Yolanda says that she would never be where she is today without Joan. 

“She watched my journey and mentally helped me overcome so many struggles,” Yolanda said. “Joan helped me analyze the area to determine if it was right for my center. She helped me with licensing. She was always there for me.” 

Today, Yolanda and her staff are licensed to care for 22 children (with infants) and 29 without infants. (Infants require more 1-1 care.) 

“FCF has been there for me every step. Joan got a chance to tour the center before I even opened and even came after I opened. She always treated me professionally and helped me maintain my mental state – even when I started to doubt if I could do it,” Yolanda said. “I was working full time while this was being all put together. It was tough. But Joan saw the fire in me and believed in me. I will never forget the help I received from Joan and First Children’s Finance.”