Madegine Gauthier, the owner of Lil Genies Learning Center in Congers, spoke to News 12 about how her business is struggling to stay open since July 2020.

“We've had our highs and lows. Mostly lows,” said Gauthier.

She showed News 12 around her business that has an entire floor with empty classrooms.

Gauthier says there are about 50 kids currently enrolled when she has a capacity for 169.

The low enrollment has led her to turn down new potential hires and it’s been a struggle to stay open.

"We just don't want to close down. We want to be here because the economy is going to turn around,” said Gauthier. “People are going to have to get back out into the workforce and they're going to need a place for their child to be watched."

She’s started a promotion: The first 50 new families will get six weeks tuition free, as long as they lock in for a year.

One parent’s 2-year-old daughter has been enrolled since being 10 months old.

She says their family relies on the center.

"My husband and I don't have that much support here and we look at Lil Genies as that support system to us,” said Crystal Demosthene, of Garnerville.