A New Beginning for Childcare in Hueytown
In the heart of Birmingham, Alabama, a new chapter has begun for families and children in the Hueytown area. On Tuesday, July 18, family, friends, and local leaders gathered on Forest Road to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Little Royalties Child Development Center. This new daycare facility marks a significant milestone after more than two-and-a-half years of planning and preparation.
For owner Crystal May, this project has been a long-awaited dream that has been on her heart for over a decade. “It’s been a long journey!” she said. “When you first start on something, you kind of know where you want to be, but you don’t know where you’re going to go.” May’s passion for childcare is rooted in her extensive experience as a child welfare supervisor in Alabama’s Department of Human Resources, where she spent 17 years working with children who were part of the system.
“I was thinking, ‘If I can reach the kids in the beginning, in the early stages, then maybe I can make a difference,’” May explained. Her vision goes beyond just providing care; it’s about creating opportunities for growth and development for both children and their families.
The support for Little Royalties came from multiple sources, including the Women’s Foundation of Alabama (WFA) and the United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA). The daycare was awarded $25,000 in funding through the United Way’s Early Learning Acceleration Institute. This financial backing has been crucial in helping to address the growing need for quality childcare in the region.
Katrina Watson, Senior VP of Community Impact for UWCA, emphasized the importance of such initiatives. “We intentionally looked for places where there are childcare deserts, meaning there are more people and families that need childcare than there are available places,” she said. “By providing this location, 55 more children will be served in the Hueytown area.”
Watson also highlighted the broader impact of these facilities. She noted that there are at least 30,000 people in central Alabama who lack access to high-quality childcare. By creating more childcare options, communities can see positive changes, including more parents being able to work, increased job opportunities, and greater investment in local economies.
“With our $25,000 [investment], it’s going to be about $200,000 more invested into Hueytown based on economic development studies,” Watson added.
Little Royalties will serve children between the ages of six weeks to 13 years old. However, the center’s mission extends beyond childcare. It offers workforce development programs for parents, including training in job interview skills. May is clear about her vision: “I told them from the beginning, this is not just a daycare. It’s a development center. So we want to create great outcomes with families, period. Kids and their parents.”
This new facility represents more than just a place for children to play and learn; it’s a hub for community growth and empowerment. With its comprehensive approach, Little Royalties is setting a new standard for childcare and family support in the area.
