WILLIAMSBURG, KY – Working moms know the importance of quality, reliable childcare.
Brittany Nelson and Danielle Bowlin were discussing the lack of high-quality childcare options in their hometown when they realized others were facing the same dilemma. That conversation sparked the two working moms to open their own childcare facility in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Little Blessings Childcare and Early Learning Center, LLC opened its doors on September 15, 2025.
“At the heart of it, we genuinely love children,” Nelson said. “There’s nothing quite like being part of those early years, watching kids grow, learn, and thrive. We wanted to create a space where every child feels safe, nurtured, and truly loved – not just supervised.”
But being friends and business partners requires two very different mindsets.
Bowlin was working as a respiratory therapist at a hospital in nearby London, Ky., and Nelson worked as a patient care coordinator at an adult day care center and had experience in the childcare industry. Together, their work experience prepared them to embark on a new journey, but their shared values and vision led to the business.
“We share the same values and the same vision, so when we started talking about doing something meaningful for our community, opening a daycare just made perfect sense,” Nelson said. “It felt like the right thing to do, for our families, for our neighbors, and for the kids who deserve the best possible start.”
Once the business idea was solidified, the partners knew location was crucial. After looking at several locations in the area, they chose their current location because it felt like the perfect fit for their vision.
“The sellers believed in our dream and were excited to support it,” Nelson explained. “The property is centrally located within our community, making it convenient for families, and it provides the right amount of space for the number of children we hope to serve. Together, these factors made it the ideal place to establish our program.”
Nelson serves as the childcare center director, and Bowlin is assistant director. Together, they share responsibilities from overseeing daily operations and supporting staff to communicating with families and maintaining a positive environment for the children in their care.
The childcare center is located at 1260 US 25W in Williamsburg and is licensed to serve up to 49 children.
The partners agreed that high-quality childcare involves more than supervision; it also includes education.
Within each classroom, Little Blessings has implemented school-based learning programs designed to prepare children of all ages for preschool and kindergarten. This approach will help more children be ready for school and build a solid foundation for their educational journey, they decided.
Little Blessings currently serves 38 children and employs 12 staff members, not including Nelson and Bowlin.
Like many employers, staffing can be challenging.
“One of our biggest challenges has been staffing,” Nelson said. “Finding and retaining qualified staff has required a great deal of time and effort.”
As a new facility, building successful daily, weekly, and monthly routines can take time.
“As new business owners, we’ve had to develop routines, systems, and processes that keep everything running smoothly, and that has involved a lot of trial and error,” she added.
Entrepreneurship is more than a nine-to-five job, so long hours away from their families are difficult, too.
“While those sacrifices have been difficult, they have also been part of building something meaningful that we are proud of,” Bowlin said.
But purchasing and remodeling the existing building were their first challenges.
The partners learned about SKED and its small-business development services from Child Care Aware of Kentucky Coach Michelle Lowe.
Soon, they were working with SKED’s Small Business Training Director, Amanda Kelly, who helped them prepare to apply for a business loan to finance the remodel of the existing building and purchase furnishings.
“The success of Little Blessings Childcare & Learning Center is a powerful reminder of what can happen when determined entrepreneurs are supported with the tools and resources they need to succeed,” Kelly said. “By turning their vision into reality, they have created opportunities for families, strengthened their community, and built a business that will make a lasting impact for years to come.”
The partners say working with SKED to develop their business made all of the difference in its success.
“Our experience working with SKED has been wonderful,” Nelson said. “From our very first interaction with Bob (Burgess, director of lending), we felt supported and guided through the process. The team helped us every step of the way, making everything as convenient and stress-free as possible.”
Nelson explained that having SKED’s team in their corner has given them the grace they’ve needed as new business owners.
“The biggest benefit of having SKED as our lender was that they were much more than just a lender. They did not simply provide financing and move on; they supported us every step of the way, even after the loan closed. The SKED team made sure we had the resources, guidance, and tools needed to succeed, not just secure a loan. Their commitment to our success and willingness to help whenever we needed it made a tremendous difference throughout this journey. We would confidently recommend SKED to anyone looking for a lender that genuinely cares about its clients and their long-term success.”
Brittany Nelson, director and co-owner
Burgess said the successful childcare center project is making a difference for the families in the Whitley County community.
“Little Blessings Childcare and Early Learning Center, LLC is providing a new service that once wasn’t there for working parents and caregivers in Whitley County. We are pleased to have been able to help Danielle and Brittany see their dreams come true,” Burgess said.
To learn more about Little Blessings Childcare and Early Learning Center, LLC, follow the business on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579645712136
