After working in and managing daycare centers for others, owner Brenda Henes decided to make the leap and start one of her own.

“I want to be here to make a difference for families,” Henes said. “Child care is a hard, hard thing for families now — not only the cost but finding quality care.”

Little Sprouts was a project nearly a year in the making that began when Henes said she stumbled across the building at 1075 Pyle Drive and decided it was the place she was looking for.

Extensive work went into the building, including updated electrical and plumbing, new furnace, and new flooring and painting.

LITTLE SPROUTS IS at 1075 Pyle Drive in Kingsford. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

Henes’ next challenge was getting licensed and approved to open. That was a waiting game, with state, county and city regulations all having to be met. Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center finally was able to open mid-February.

Little Sprouts has 11 employees trained through MiRegistry, a state-run organization that tracks required health and safety training such as CPR, treating a choking baby and recognizing child abuse or neglect.

Little Sprouts cares for 57 children, which is within the state-required staff-to-child ratio, which varies depending on the age group. Henes said they are able to take on more children full-time or part-time.

Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center is all-inclusive; children with special needs are absolutely welcome to attend, Henes said.

The center’s hours are 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. By opening early and staying open late, Henes said she hopes to set Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center apart from other daycare centers.

The center also has a preschool program from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Henes added she serves the children a less processed, more organic meal plan.

Education and getting children ready for school is stressed at Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center.

“We run a full curriculum, starting with the infant space,” Henes said. “After they leave the infant space, they start the toddler curriculum and that follows through to preschool, which we offer here and from there they are kindergarten ready.”

The children are taught skills that should help them even beyond kindergarten.

“We make sure that we are doing our portfolios and observations so we can set goals and help them be prepared,” Henes said.

Discipline is not a thing at Little Sprouts; rather, redirection is taught.

“A lot of times they do not understand how to use their emotions correctly, so we help them redirect,” Henes said.

Parents are included in the learning process, through newsletters sent home that can help parents perhaps turn what was done into fun activities at home to emphasize the lessons, Henes said.

For more information on Little Sprouts Childcare & Early Education Center, call 906-828-1067 or go online to https://littlesproutsccandeeccomegrowwithus.us/.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new business owners in the region. Know of a business that recently opened or changed hands? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 85229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.