Jean
McClendon is a true visionary. In 1992 she and her three daughters,
Sherry Davidson, Monica Ross and Cynthia McClendon, opened Kim's Kids,
Inc., in East St. Louis. It initially occupied a refurbished hardware
store/fitness center. In 1995 Kim's Kids constructed a state of the
art 15,000 square foot facility utilizing Tax Increment Financing,
SBA funds and private lending. The business still operates out of
both facilities. It is a 24 hour/seven days a week operation and services
families with children aged six weeks to 12 years. Programs include
pre-school, infant and toddler care and after school services.
The
first location grew from 30 to 250 children while providing the quality
care and programs that were lacking in the area. Seeing that were
more opportunities, Jean set out to open a second location. With the
assistance of Kevin Wilson, director of the St. Louis Regional SBDC
located in the St. Louis Empowerment Zone, Kim's Kids worked on a
loan proposal to purchase new land and build a second location in
Midtown St. Louis City. The total project costs totaled $1.5 million.
This $1.5 million consisted of a SBA 504 loan from the St. Louis Development
Corporation, bank financing and working capital from the Minority
Business Council.
Kim's Kids was named after Jean McClendon's sister Kim. Kim and Jean
were planning to start and run the daycare business together. At the
time Kim was a public relations specialist in Washington DC. With
encouragement from her sister Jean, Kim had decided to move back to
the Midwest to help get the business started. However, a tragic turn
of events left Kim killed in a head-on car accident while driving
from Washington D.C. Kim was only 29 years old when she died. Jean
and her daughters decided to name the daycare center after Kim as
a tribute to her life. 
In 2003 Kim's Kids was recognized as a "Business of the Year"
by Mayor Francis Slay of St. Louis City for its outstanding service
to disadvantaged families and for playing an integral role in the
exciting redevelopment of the Historic Grand Center area. Kim's Kids
is a shining example of entrepreneurship and vision!
Kim's Kids Incorporated
1000 Gaty Ave.
East St. Louis, IL 62202
(618) 271-7786
(618) 271-7743
http://www.kimskidsinc.com/
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