Consistency matters deeply to young children, and the former owners of Tiny Treasures Day Care understood that just as clearly as the 100 parents who trusted them with their kids every day. As they began planning for retirement, their biggest concern wasn’t simply stepping away from the business—it was ensuring that the children would continue to experience the same stability, routines, and familiar faces they relied on. Disrupting that sense of continuity felt unthinkable, so the owners looked for someone the children already knew and trusted.
They didn’t have to look far. Sarah Foglesong had spent years working at Tiny Treasures and had built strong relationships with both families and staff. With a degree in Family Life Education and a deep understanding of early childhood development, she was well prepared for the responsibility. At the same time, Foglesong was entering a new chapter of her own life, newly engaged and ready to put down roots in Gaylord. Stepping into ownership allowed her to do both—continue caring for children she loved and secure the future of a vital community resource.
The fully licensed day care serves up to 52 children and employs a staff of eight, making it a significant part of the local care infrastructure. An SBA Community Advantage loan from Northern Initiatives, using funds from the Michigan CDFI Coalition, made the transition possible and kept the doors open during the ownership change.
Foglesong knows the need extends far beyond her own center. Even with a modest increase in available child care slots, she notes that Otsego County still needs two to three times more capacity than currently exists—underscoring just how critical Tiny Treasures is to working families in the region.
