What’s better than one SBA 504 loan? For Tender Years Child Development Center, the answer is three.
The family-owned child care provider recently opened its fifth location with support from its third SBA 504 loan facilitated by Seedcopa. The new 11,000-square-foot facility, located at 1151 Harrisburg Pike in Carlisle, expands Tender Years’ capacity to serve families across the Harrisburg area, adding space for up to 129 children and creating 24 new jobs.
“At this point, we understand the value of SBA 504 financing firsthand,” said Jay Krebs, owner-operator of Tender Years Child Development Center. “The below-market interest rates and low 10% equity requirement allow us to reinvest in our business, our facilities and the families we serve. For a growing business like ours, it just makes sense.”
With financing from lending partner Univest and Seedcopa, Tender Years was able to bring its newest location to life and continue building on a legacy that began in 1984. Original owner Betty Krebs attended the grand opening
alongside her children, Jay Krebs and Kim Shearer, who now lead the business as owner-operators. Both became involved in the business just a few years after it opened and have helped guide its growth from a single center to five locations.
“Tender Years has a long and successful track record of providing valuable child care services and creating employment opportunities in the Harrisburg area,” said Seedcopa SVP & Relationship Manager Marie Shires. “Their continued growth, strong community presence and proven business model made this project an ideal fit for SBA 504 financing.”
In addition to its newest Harrisburg Pike location, Tender Years operates centers in Camp Hill, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, and Hampden Township. Across all locations, the family-owned business now has the capacity to serve nearly 700 children in the Harrisburg region.
Tender Years offers programs for infants, young toddlers, older toddlers, preschool, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, summer camp, and before- and after-school care. Its educational curriculum is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the centers participate in Pennsylvania Keystone STARS, the state’s continuous quality improvement system for early learning and school-age care programs.
