Childcare Provider Spotlight: The Wolfe Den Daycare, LLC

We are proud to introduce The Wolfe Den Daycare, LLC, a women-owned business and client of the Center for Rural Affairs Women’s Business Center in Nebraska, and a graduate of their recent Childcare Accelerator program made possible by the Association of Women’s Business Centers in partnership with Stearns Bank.

Building a Business Rooted in Family

For Mikaela Wolfe, opening a daycare started with a simple goal: be there for her family.

After years working in the medical field, she understood the demands of a fast-paced career. When she and her husband decided to grow their blended family, Mikaela began looking for a path that would allow her to stay present at home while still building something of her own.

Starting her own daycare felt like the right fit. It provided flexibility, purpose, and the opportunity to create stable income for her family.

She opened The Wolfe Den Daycare two years before welcoming her youngest child, who is now 2.5 years old.

Today, she serves nine families in a setting that feels much more like home than a traditional childcare program. It is licensed and structured, but rooted in relationships and trust.

At The Wolfe Den Daycare, the word “den” truly reflects the atmosphere. The children gather around the table together for meals, talk about their day, and celebrate milestones as a group. Mikaela treats every child like one of her own and takes time to build genuine relationships with parents.

“It’s just one big, happy family at The Wolfe Den Daycare,” she says. “When those kiddos go home and show their parents something new that they’ve learned here, and they’re happy and excited to come back every day, that means everything.”

That sense of belonging is what families remember and what keeps them coming back.

Growing Through the Childcare Accelerator

When Mikaela first opened her daycare, she was determined but largely on her own.

“I was kind of in the dark and did it all by myself,” she explains. Beyond one walkthrough with another provider in Grand Island, she had little guidance on licensing requirements, continuing education, taxes, or how to structure her business properly.

The Childcare Accelerator program helped change that.

“This innovative program is part of a broader initiative and comes at a critical time, as access to dependable and affordable child care remains a major issue across the country, and especially in rural communities,” said Jessica Campos, Women’s Business Center Director at the Center for Rural Affairs. “The program helped rural small business owners like Mikaela complete required continuing education classes necessary to keep her license up-to-date. Mikaela didn’t have initial help in setting up her day care and this program helped her fill in the gaps—tax prep, running a small business, whether to become an LLC or not, and more.”

For Mikaela, the program marked a turning point. Instead of simply operating a daycare, she began running a more organized and sustainable business.

“The Childcare Accelerator program helped me build a better business plan,” she says. “And with the funding that I received, I was able to expand my daycare services and now can provide my children with a lot more learning experiences.”

She used the funding to purchase a van, making field trips, park days, museum visits, and swimming lessons possible. The program also gave her the tools and confidence to separate her business finances and strengthen the long-term stability of her daycare.

Her favorite parts of the program were the coaching and peer support, along with the business classes and resources that helped her feel more confident as both a provider and an entrepreneur.

Looking Ahead

Over the next year, Mikaela is especially excited to put the van to use and make the most of the summer months.

“I’m extremely excited for the summertime where we can really get out and I can show these children some really neat things in our community.”

For Mikaela, childcare is not just a service. It is foundational to families, working parents, and the health of the broader community. As The Wolfe Den Daycare continues to grow, her focus remains the same as it was on day one: creating a safe, loving place where children can learn, explore, and feel at home.

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Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) are a national network of over 140 locations dedicated to providing free and low-cost business counseling, training, and resources to entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Supported by public and private partners, WBCs help small business owners access the guidance, capital readiness support, and connections they need to start, sustain, and grow their businesses. Find a WBC near you.