Little Angels LLC owner Holly Maxwell (second from left) cuts the ribbon at her new daycare facility in Lebanon. Joining Holly are (from left to right) Nelson Maxwell, age 7, Holly’s Mom Cindy Tieken, Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry, Boone EDC Executive Director Molly Whitehead, Boone EDC Deputy Director Ben Worrell and Kathleen Maxwell, age 7.

A new daycare center recently opened in Lebanon, Ind. with help from the Boone County Economic Development Corporation (Boone EDC) Microloan Program.

Holly Maxwell, owner of Little Angels LLC, received a microloan from the Boone EDC Microloan Program to purchase cribs, rocking chairs, diapering stations, signage, paint, flooring and other construction materials.

“The mission of the Microloan Program is to be a resource for small businesses in Boone County by providing a convenient start-up option for small business owners seeking funding for specific projects,” said Boone EDC Executive Director Molly Whitehead. “In the past two years, the program has distributed $23,000 to small business owners in Boone County. I applaud Boone EDC Deputy Director Ben Worrell for his dedication to assisting small businesses through the Microloan Program.”

Little Angels, located next to Hattie B Stokes Elementary School at 925 Hendricks Drive in Lebanon, currently accepts children 2 ½ years old and older and plans to add infant care soon. There are presently more than 30 children enrolled, and Holly plans to continue adding more in the coming weeks.

“As we continue to see businesses locate and expand in Lebanon, we also see the need for quality childcare facilities like Little Angels,” said Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry. “I hope to see more local small business owners like Holly utilize the Boone EDC Microloan Program.”

Little Angels is currently certified as a Level 1 Paths to Quality program. Paths to Quality is Indiana’s statewide quality rating and improvement system for early care and education. According to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Little Angels is one of two licensed Paths to Quality daycare centers in Lebanon.

“I have 20 years of childcare experience which includes six years of owning my own in-home daycare,” said Holly. “The microloan I received from the Boone EDC has allowed me to expand my in-home daycare into a larger facility that will allow me to serve more families in Boone County.”