Care to Grow
Childcare Business Pitch Competition
Turn your next step into a plan. One childcare center will receive a $5,000 grant to put its growth plan into action.
Turn Your Next Step Into a Plan
You know your childcare center. You know what your families need. And chances are, you already have ideas about what could help your business grow.
Care to Grow: Childcare Business Pitch Competition is an opportunity to take that idea and turn it into a clear, actionable growth plan.
One childcare center will receive a $5,000 grant to put its growth plan into action.
But Care to Grow is about more than winning a grant.
The goal is to help childcare center owners become more comfortable planning for growth, understanding their business numbers, creating a budget, and explaining how an investment can help their business move forward. These are the same skills you may need when applying for a future grant, requesting a business loan, or pursuing other funding opportunities.
You do not need to be an expert at pitching. You do not need a complicated business plan. We want to hear about your business, where you want it to go, and how you plan to get there.
Need Help Getting Your Idea Ready?
You don't have to figure it all out on your own.
Attend Vision to Venture
If you are thinking about applying for Care to Grow, we strongly recommend attending our Vision to Venture Workshop on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The workshop is an opportunity to work on your business idea and begin thinking through how to turn that idea into a clear plan and pitch.
Come with your idea, your challenge, or the next step you want to take in your business. You do not need to have everything figured out before you attend.
Attendance at Vision to Venture is recommended, but it is not required to apply for Care to Grow.
Register for Vision to VentureVisit NavigateMGM
Potential applicants may also visit the NavigateMGM app for assistance developing their business idea and pitch.
NavigateMGM can be another resource as you think through your growth opportunity, business needs, budget, and how to communicate your plan.
Open NavigateMGMApplicants are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available to them. Receiving assistance from Vision to Venture or NavigateMGM is not required to apply and does not give an applicant additional points during judging.
The goal is simple: We want you to submit the strongest plan you can.
Important Dates
Vision to Venture Workshop
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend and work on their business growth idea and pitch.
Register for Vision to VenturePhase 1 Application Deadline
All Care to Grow applications and required materials must be submitted by 11:59 PM CST.
Top 3 Finalists Announced
The three childcare centers advancing to the live pitch competition will be notified.
One-on-One Finalist Pitch Planning
Each finalist will participate in an individual planning session with the program team.
Finalists Build and Refine Presentations
Finalists will complete their PowerPoint presentations and prepare for the live pitch.
Final PowerPoint Presentations Due
Each finalist must submit their completed PowerPoint presentation for the final pitch competition.
Care to Grow Final Pitch Competition
The Kress Building
The Top 3 finalists will pitch their growth plans before a panel of judges.
Winner Announced
The $5,000 Care to Grow Childcare Center Growth Grant recipient will be announced during the Give Thanks for Small Business Mixer at The Kress Building.
How Does the Competition Work?
Care to Grow will take place in two phases.
Submit Your Growth Plan
Eligible childcare centers will complete an application describing their business and one specific opportunity for growth.
Applicants will tell us:
- Where your business is today
- Where you would like your business to grow
- What is currently standing in the way of that growth
- What you would do with a $5,000 investment
- What results you expect the investment to produce
- How you would begin putting your plan into action
Applications must be submitted by Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST. Apply here.
Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline may not be considered.
Applications will be reviewed, and three finalists will be selected. The Top 3 finalists will be notified on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Finalist Pitch
The three finalists will receive hands-on support to help prepare their presentations.
Each finalist must prepare and submit a PowerPoint presentation by Monday, November 16, 2026.
Finalists will pitch their growth plans to a panel of judges on:
Each finalist will have:
- 5 minutes to pitch
- followed by 3 minutes to answer questions from the judges
The winner will be announced during the Give Thanks for Small Business Mixer later that evening.
$5,000 Childcare Center Growth Grant
One finalist will receive the $5,000 grant. The grant does not have to be repaid.
Grant funds may be considered taxable business income. The recipient is responsible for any applicable federal, state, or local tax obligations and should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their individual circumstances.
Who Can Apply?
Care to Grow is specifically designed for existing childcare centers located and operating within the City of Montgomery.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Own and operate an active childcare center within the City of Montgomery.
- Have a current City of Montgomery business license for the childcare center.
- Be appropriately licensed or authorized to operate a childcare center in accordance with applicable requirements.
- Be actively providing childcare services at the time of application.
- Be able to identify a specific growth opportunity or business improvement that could be supported with the $5,000 grant.
- Be willing to participate in finalist preparation activities if selected as one of the Top 3.
- Be available to participate in the November 19, 2026 pitch competition at 4:00 PM if selected as a finalist.
- Agree to become an approved City of Montgomery vendor if selected as the winner.
One Application Per Business Owner
Only one application may be submitted per business owner. An owner with multiple childcare centers, business locations, LLCs, or related businesses may not submit multiple applications under different business names or entities.
If you own more than one childcare center, select the center and growth project you would like considered for Care to Grow.
What Will I Need to Submit?
We want the application process to be useful without being overwhelming.
Applicants will provide basic information about their childcare center and answer several questions about their plans for growth.
You will be asked to provide information such as:
- Business name and contact information
- Owner information
- Years in business
- Number of employees
- Current enrollment
- Current childcare capacity
- Annual gross business revenue
- Current-year gross revenue to date
- Your business growth goal
- The challenge or barrier affecting that growth
- Your proposed project
- How you would use the $5,000
- The results you expect from the investment
- A simple 90-day action plan
Required Documents
Applicants should be prepared to submit:
- Current City of Montgomery Business License
- Proof of applicable childcare licensing or operating status
- Completed W-9
- Simple $5,000 project budget
We are not asking you to submit a lengthy traditional business plan.
The purpose of this process is to help you begin building a clear growth plan that can become part of a stronger business plan or future funding request.
Complete Your Application Carefully
Applicants are responsible for submitting all required information and documents by the application deadline.
Incomplete applications and applications submitted after 11:59 PM CST on October 22, 2026 may not be considered.
Applicants are encouraged to submit early enough to make sure all required documents have been successfully uploaded.
What Can the $5,000 Be Used For?
The Care to Grow grant is intended to help your childcare center grow, improve, or make a strategic investment in its future.
Eligible expenses may include:
- Classroom furniture or equipment
- Educational materials and curriculum
- Technology or childcare management systems
- Safety or security improvements
- Playground or outdoor learning equipment
- Physical improvements to the childcare center
We want to know what YOUR childcare center needs to take its next step.
What Can't the Grant Pay For?
Care to Grow funds are intended for business growth investments, not routine operating expenses. Grant funds cannot be used for:
- Payroll
- Hiring or staffing costs
- Employee wages, salaries, or benefits
- Taxes
- Utilities
- Routine monthly operating expenses
- Other expenses that are not directly connected to the approved growth project
Physical Improvements
Grant funds may be used for eligible physical improvements to the childcare center when those improvements are directly connected to the approved growth plan.
Applicants proposing improvements to property they do not own should be prepared to provide property owner approval when applicable before work begins.
All improvements must comply with applicable laws, codes, permitting requirements, licensing requirements, and other approvals.
When developing your budget, think about an investment that moves your business forward, rather than an expense that simply keeps the business operating from month to month.
What Makes a Strong Growth Plan?
You don't need to use complicated business language.
A strong application simply connects the dots.
We're looking for a plan that makes sense for your business.
It doesn't have to be the biggest idea. It needs to be a thoughtful idea that you can realistically put into action.
How Will the Top 3 Be Selected?
Applications will be reviewed based on the strength and feasibility of the proposed growth plan. Phase 1 applications are reviewed on:
- Clearly Defined Growth Opportunity
- Strength of Growth Plan
- Reasonableness of the $5,000 Budget
- Expected Business and/or Community Impact
- Understanding of Business Operations and Financials
- Ability to Execute the Plan
The three highest-rated applicants will advance to the finalist round.
What Happens If I'm Selected as a Finalist?
First: Don't panic about the word "pitch."
You are not expected to walk into the competition already knowing how to make a professional pitch. That's part of the experience.
The three finalists will receive hands-on support to help turn their written growth plans into clear, five-minute presentations.
Finalist Support Timeline
Finalists Announced
The Top 3 finalists will be notified and receive information about the final pitch competition, PowerPoint requirements, judging criteria, and finalist preparation process.
One-on-One Pitch Planning
Each finalist will participate in an individual planning session with the program team. During this session, we will work with you to review your:
- Business growth opportunity
- Proposed use of the $5,000
- Project budget
- Business numbers
- Expected results
- 30-, 60-, and 90-day action plan
- Overall pitch story
The goal is to help you organize what you already know about your business into a strong presentation.
Build and Refine Your Presentation
Finalists will use this time to complete their PowerPoint presentations and practice their pitches.
The program team will be available to answer questions and provide reasonable guidance as finalists prepare.
Final PowerPoint Due
Each finalist must submit their completed PowerPoint presentation by Monday, November 16, 2026.
The PowerPoint should support the finalist's five-minute presentation and clearly communicate the proposed growth plan.
Final Pitch Competition
Finalists will present their growth plans before the judges at 4:00 PM, Thursday, November 19, 2026, at The Kress Building.
What Will I Learn to Communicate?
Throughout the finalist preparation process, we will help you clearly communicate:
What does my childcare center do and who do we serve?
What do my enrollment, capacity, staffing, and revenue tell me about my business?
Where can my business grow?
What is keeping me from getting there?
What am I going to do?
How will I invest the $5,000?
What will change because of the investment?
What will I do during the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
These are valuable skills whether you win the competition or not.
The goal is not to turn you into a professional presenter. The goal is to help you confidently explain your business, your numbers, your growth opportunity, and your plan.
Final Pitch Competition
Each finalist will receive: 5 minutes to pitch, followed by 3 minutes of questions from the judges.
The judges may ask questions about the childcare center, proposed project, budget, expected results, and the owner's ability to implement the plan.
The final pitch will be scored separately from the Phase 1 application. All three finalists will enter the final competition on equal footing.
What the Judges Will Consider
- Growth Strategy
- Proposed Use of Funds
- Understanding of Business Financials
- Expected Results and Impact
- Feasibility of the Plan
- Responses to Judges' Questions
This is not a public-speaking contest.
Judges are evaluating the strength of your growth plan and how well you understand your business and the opportunity—not whether you are a professional presenter.
Judges' scores will determine the winner. In the event of a tie, the competition organizers may conduct an additional review of the tied finalists' growth plans and proposed use of funds to determine the winner.
Judging decisions are final.
What Happens If I Win?
The $5,000 Care to Grow award is intended to help you put the growth plan you presented into action.
City of Montgomery Vendor Registration
The winning childcare center will be required to become an approved City of Montgomery vendor before the $5,000 grant payment can be issued.
You do not have to be a City vendor to apply. Vendor registration is required only if you are selected as the winner.
The winner will work with the City to complete the necessary vendor and payment documentation.
Before receiving and using the award, the winner must also:
- Complete any final eligibility or documentation verification required by the City.
- Agree to use the grant for the approved Care to Grow project.
- Obtain any necessary property owner approvals, permits, licenses, or other approvals required for physical improvements.
- Contact the program team before making a significant change to the approved project or use of funds.
Selection as the winner is subject to final eligibility verification and completion of the City's vendor and payment requirements.
About the Award
The $5,000 award is a grant, not a loan, and does not have to be paid back.
The grant may be considered taxable business income. The recipient is responsible for reporting the award and paying any taxes that may apply.
Recipients should consult their accountant or tax professional for guidance regarding their individual tax situation.
Winner Announcement
Following the pitch competition, finalists will join the Give Thanks for Small Business Mixer at The Kress Building. The winner of the $5,000 Care to Grow Childcare Center Growth Grant will be announced during the mixer at approximately:
What Happens After the Competition?
After receiving the grant, the winning childcare center will work one-on-one with the program team to document how the $5,000 was used and what the investment helped the business accomplish.
The grant recipient will be required to:
- Provide receipts documenting how the grant funds were spent.
- Work with the program team to complete a simple report showing how the funds were used.
- Participate in a site visit so we can see and document the investment made in your childcare center.
- Participate, when requested, in photos and interviews highlighting the investment and your business.
This process is designed to document the impact of the Care to Grow investment and give us an opportunity to promote and celebrate your childcare center and its growth.
Ready to Grow?
You have already done one of the hardest things: you built a childcare business.
Now we want to help you think intentionally about what's next.
Bring us your idea. Bring us your challenge. Bring us your vision for growth. We'll help you turn it into a plan.