Business Spotlight: How Community Impact Can Start with One Childcare

Since 2002, Dejuana Smith, founder of Future Focus Child Care, has been serving families in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh by providing affordable, high-quality childcare for children aged six weeks to 12 years old. What began as a small in-home daycare serving six children at a time has grown into a thriving center that now cares for between 40 and 70 children.  As the business expanded, Dejuana continued to build not only her childcare services but also her broader entrepreneurial vision. She purchased a commercial building, launched a second business, Twilight Reality, and now rents space to other small businesses.

From Multiple Jobs to Business Owner

Before launching Future Focus Child Care, Dejuana worked multiple jobs to save enough money to purchase a home. At 25, she achieved that goal and shortly after launched her in-home daycare.  Although demand grew quickly, regulations limited her childcare to 6 children at a time. Determined, Dejuana extended her hours and began caring for 10 -12 kids around the clock. With increasing operating hours and the number of children in her care, quickly, Dejuana outgrew her in-home childcare. Demands were exhausting, and it was clear she needed a new path forward. 

Growing In-Home Childcare to Commercial

Rather than stepping back, Dejuana invested in herself and earned a child development diploma along with an associate degree in early childhood education, all while searching for a larger facility. With the help of a broker, Dejuana connected with a building owner who believed in her vision and offered her a chance to grow with a simple promise: “Pay me when you can.” By spring 2017, Future Focus Child Care opened its doors in the new two story, 10,000 square foot building.  

Securing Ownership

In February 2023, Dejuana purchased the building, securing long term stability for her business and opening the door for continued growth. While her childcare program was fully operating on the first floor, the second floor remained unused and required significant renovation.

Expanding Opportunity

While securing the building was a major milestone, fully activating the space presented a new challenge: access to capital to renovate and stabilize the second floor. That’s where Neighborhood Community Development Fund’s (NCDF) partnership made a critical difference. Through flexible financing and ongoing support, Dejuana gained not only the capital needed to renovate and improve the building, but also a trusted advisory relationship.

“Denise [NCDF Loan Officer] has been nothing but a blessing for me” she shared. Beyond funding, Dejuana expressed gratitude in NCDF’s continued guidance: “I’m still learning as an entrepreneur, so I appreciate all the services you [NCDF] provide to help with that.”

With support from NCDF, she renovated the property and now fully utilizes both floors.

Continuing Impact Across the Community

The building’s impact continues to grow. In addition to her childcare center, Dejuana is now renting the second-floor space to another daycare provider and a therapist, expanding access to services and creating jobs within the community (Notably, the upstairs daycare operator is also a NCDF borrower—demonstrating how one investment can multiply opportunity). By investing in businesses like Future Focus Child Care, we help create economic opportunities and build lasting financial stability for individuals, families, and entire communities.