When April Lukasik’s second child was born, she struggled to find a childcare center that met her high standards. So, she decided to start her own, which also marked the beginning of a small business.
With a background in business and determination as a mother, she combined her skills to open the first Bright & Early Children’s Learning Center in 1997. This was made possible largely due to the financing she received through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA backs loans for small business owners who can’t secure loans elsewhere and offers counseling, mentorship, and government contracting opportunities. Over the years, Lukasik expanded her business to include four childcare centers across Connecticut and was named the 2018 Connecticut Small Business Person of the Year.
Without the SBA, Lukasik believes she wouldn’t have been able to build her business. They were the only ones willing to lend her money despite her lack of experience and real estate capital. She is grateful for the chance and faith the SBA showed in her, even 20 years later.
The SBA aims to help more entrepreneurs like April start, grow, and expand their businesses. As October is National Women’s Small Business Month, it’s a great time to highlight some of the resources the SBA offers to women.
The SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership supports female entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, and assistance. Working through each of the SBA’s 68 district offices, they provide business training, counseling, access to credit, capital, and marketing opportunities.
A network of 116 Women’s Business Centers, including nine new ones this year, offers training, coaching, and mentoring to entrepreneurs nationwide. These centers focus on helping economically or socially disadvantaged women with comprehensive training on various topics, such as becoming a certified woman-owned small business, using social media for marketing, and exporting products. They continually develop new courses based on community needs. Last year, these centers supported over 150,000 women, leading to significant revenue and job growth—$1.7 billion in revenue and 17,000 new jobs.
The government aims to allocate 5 percent of all federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses. The SBA trains entrepreneurs on assessing their readiness for government contracts, registering as government contractors, navigating federal regulations, and qualifying for contracts through small business set-aside programs. In 2017, $20.8 billion in government contracts went to women-owned small businesses.
With her children now grown, April Lukasik is focused on further expanding her business. She has created around 70 full-time jobs and provides an essential service to the community. Her goal is to grow as much as possible without sacrificing service quality. She looks forward to continuing to rely on the SBA for support.
