Tamra Brannon has always loved children and wanted to be a child psychologist growing up. After graduating high school, she worked for the CampFire Afterschool Program within Amarillo Independent School District. She was a daycare director in Amarillo before moving to Claude, Texas, with her family, where she began an in-home daycare. She quickly realized there was a greater need for childcare in her community than what she was able to provide in her home. In February of 2022, Tamra opened Lil’ Colts Childcare and has come full circle by giving help to the after-school program in Claude when she leaves the daycare almost every day. Tamra advises anyone considering opening their own small business to contact America’s SBDC at WTAMU. Her business consultant, Gina Woodward, sat down with her to develop a successful business plan that she ultimately presented to the bank to secure a loan. The Claude EDC board fully understood the crucial role that childcare availability plays in economic development. They worked closely with Tamra to ensure that employers and employees in the city now have access to childcare that many previously had to drive 30 miles or more out of their way to access. The biggest challenge Tamra has faced has been staffing, and that is significantly exacerbated in a small town. Although the facility has the capacity for 39 children, she currently has enough employees due to ratio compliance to keep half that amount. With all her obstacles, we wanted to know what motivates her. “The kids. I get up for these kids.”
