Mitchell Learning Academy (MLA) is a minority-owned, high-quality childcare and educational center located in an underserved community in Jacksonville, Florida. Owned and operated by Reshawndia Mitchell and her husband Mr. Mitchell, the couple spent years working towards their dream to provide the parents of the local community with quality childcare and educational services.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, MLA was at high risk. Enrollment was down dramatically, the lockdown kept children out of the center and families don’t have the resources to continue to send their kids to the center. While Reshawndia, the Center Director, was able to keep the doors open, she knew that she could not maintain her staff of 10 any longer without help.
That’s when she turned to BBIF Florida. BBIF Florida’s management consulting director educated Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell on the SBA Payment Protection Program (PPP). She was able to apply and become approved.
Thanks to the PPP loan, MLA is able to remain open to families of essentials, first responders and healthcare workers.
The PPP loan has been instrumental in MLA’s resiliency. Jacksonville is a highly competitive market for quality early learning educators, which is the true mark of a quality early learning center. The loss of their talented employees would not only be devastating to their individual households, but detrimental to the continuation of their operations, even after the crisis subsides.
“Receiving the PPP loan allows us to retain the staff that we’ve had for several years, which is critical to our business being successful later. It gives me a huge sigh of relief that we were able to receive the funding, and my hope now is that things clear up before the two month period expires.”
Reshawndia Mitchell, Center Director
