Business Spotlight January 2025

The Growing Room

Business name: The Growing Room,Inc.

Owner: Missy Griffin

Business Description: Preschool

Address: 7781 Cooper Road

Telephone Number: 513-272-2111

Business Website: thegrowingroompreschool.com

 

What was the inspiration behind the business? Or What is your inspiration?

The Growing Room, Inc. was designed in 1998 to be a caring alternative to traditional, institutional early childhood programs. I was inspired to open a program based on my philosophies of early childhood education due to the limited options for my daughter who was preschool age at the time.

What are the three most important things about your business?

Our Philosophy is based on 3 key points.

We are Connection-Driven.

We have a foundation of Kindness and Respect.

We are Community-Based.

What is the key to your success?

The Growing Room Preschool has been part of the Montgomery community since 2016. With the amazing support of our wonderful families and the Montgomery Chamber we have been able to double in size in the last eight years. Our favorite part about being in Montgomery has been the relationships we have built. We strive to be a connection-based business building lasting relationships with our families as we help to raise their children. We rely on the word of mouth from our clients who share that we are a top quality program offering social emotional and academic growth to preschool children ages 2.5-5!

What do you love most about owning a business in Montgomery?

At The Growing Room we love what Montgomery has to offer. We often use facilities in the City of Montgomery such as Montgomery and Swaim Park and Terwilliger Lodge for our family events such as our family welcome meetings, our  Annual Fall Fest, our Art Show and our yearly Graduation ceremony. Our favorite memories have been created over the years as we come together to celebrate!

 

If you could explain your business in the simplest form, how would you?

TGR is dedicated to providing a warm, nurturing environment where every child can thrive. We strive to support growth in all areas of a child's development. Our educators work each day to build kind, respectful classroom learning communities that through our mixed-age program can foster a safe place to learn and grow both socially and academically.

Do you or your business donate to any charities? Which ones? Why?

The Growing Room, inc. has a non-profit scholarship program called The Love Grows Program.

The Love Grows program provides full-time, tuition-free, high quality early childhood education to Cincinnati families that are experiencing poverty. In addition, the program values the whole child, which includes the family unit. Because of that, we offer a resource room, clothing pantry, laundry, job training, as well as financial assistance. The program aims to increase student and family success by providing individualized support for each unique situation.

This program was started in 2020 and was as it was a lifelong goal of mine to serve the whole community, not just those who could afford it.

What is one of your favorite client stories?

“It warms my heart that I was able to make an impact on the lives of my students and their families even when TGR was just a one room school. This past year I was invited to 4 high school graduation parties by some of my beloved former students.”

Best advice anyone has given you?

Do the best of you can until you know better. When you know better do better.

What is one of your favorite quotes?

“We see with our eyes, we know with our hearts.” -Jim Henson.

What is your favorite part of your job?

“Creating a team of strong women who support each other and work together to educate our preschoolers to be good humans.”