Mari's Little Lambs

Business

At a time when child care has become more than a convenience but a vital component of childhood development and the foundation of local economies, Mari’s Little Lambs stands as a transformative experience for families and a model of innovation for communities across the nation. Founded by Mari Keuter, a visionary childcare expert with over two decades of experience, it has redefined the childcare landscape and reimagined what it truly means to put children and parents first.

With nine locations across the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area, Mari’s Little Lambs doesn’t provide its families with child care alone; a network of personal assistants, pediatric telehealth services, child development consultants, and a team of other contracted licensed pediatric advisors are also included in the tuition.

However, the cornerstone of Mari’s Little Lambs is its nurturing educational programs. Every child, from infants through preschoolers, is guided through their milestones with a nationally recognized curriculum and dedicated S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning spaces.

Challenge

While there is a national shortage of child care, which keeps many parents from pursuing their professional aspirations, opening new childcare centers poses unique challenges. This endeavor for Mari’s Little Lambs went beyond just brick and mortar; it included securing financing, navigating complex real estate transactions, overcoming building design challenges, navigating permitting and construction during COVID-19, hiring and training qualified teachers, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The intricacies of these processes, such as projection-based financing, adapting buildings for childcare purposes, and enhancing safety measures, highlighted the multifaceted nature of the challenges Mari and her team faced.

Solution

Enter KeyBank, where a team of experts embraced Mari’s vision and saw the value it would bring to her community. “It was sort of a perfect fit. They represent what KeyBank is proud of, and that is getting capital into the markets for small businesses to boost the economy and to help serve a need,” a senior business relationship manager explained. With KeyBank’s support, Mari and her team were well on their way to gaining more than just a financial partnership but a banking relationship that would help turn their challenges into opportunities. When asked why Mari chose KeyBank, one of her business partners responded, “KeyBank had a reputation for clients, client services, and being fiscally sound, which meant we knew that they would be there for us the entire way.”

Results

With the full support of KeyBank, Mari’s Little Lambs continues to forge ahead. Doors are opened, children are cared for, parents have a partner in their child’s development, and teachers have a place where they can build a career. But the relationship doesn’t end there. KeyBank continues to guide Mari and her team every step of the way, including offering products and services to families enrolled at their childcare centers and advising Mari’s Little Lambs on further expansion plans. Today, Mari’s Little Lambs serves as a model for early education initiatives, with the potential to inspire other government agencies, entrepreneurs, educators, and communities throughout the country.