Hand in Hand Early Childhood Center Wins Rural Small Business of the Year Award

​We are excited to highlight the remarkable success story of Hand in Hand Early Childhood Center, who will be  recognized as the Rural Entrepreneur of the Year. This honor celebrates their dedication to providing quality childcare and their resilient journey towards expansion, despite facing significant challenges.

Hand in Hand Early Childhood Center’s journey is a testament to perseverance. Initially, they were awarded an OCFS state grant to expand their center. However, this grant was rescinded due to a technicality, posing a major setback. Undeterred, they continued planning their expansion, driven by their commitment to serving more families in Lewis County.

Hand in Hand Early Childhood Center was founded in 1993 in a house. In 2003, Hand in Hand received a grant to build the current center on Brookside Circle, where they have been ever since. The Lowville site has six classrooms, accommodating 72 children aged birth to five years. Additionally, they offer school-age programs in two Lewis County school districts for before and after-school care. Hand in Hand is the only licensed facility in Lewis County, which means they often have very long waiting lists. Lewis County is considered a childcare desert, meaning there is not enough childcare compared to the number of families needing care.

After a setback with an OCFS state grant, their determination paid off with the Northern Border Regional Catalyst grant, awarding them almost $3 million! The funding allowed them to expand their center, adding two new rooms and opened satellite locations at Harrisville School and South Lewis School, providing even more childcare options for Lewis County families.
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Jenniffer Bleakley, who holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education and has been the Executive Director for nearly nine years, expressed immense pride in this accomplishment. She shared that the project’s success has been a collaborative effort, involving the dedication and hard work of numerous individuals. The support from Lewis County grant writers and Debbie from SBDC was crucial in securing the grant and making this vision a reality.
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A special shoutout to Deborah at SBDC for her unwavering support and expertise. "Working with Deborah at SBDC was wonderful! She listened to our story and knew we were on a short deadline and worked with me to get the Business Plan accomplished by the deadline. I could not have completed this portion of the grant without her!! I am so thankful that she was able to help me and would definitely work with Deborah and the SBDC again!" - Jenniffer Bleakley, Owner of Hand in Hand Early Childhood Center​