So that was a trick question, because I contend that we ALL have children in childcare.
As business owners and supporters, we all care about economic and workforce development in our community, therefore we ALL have a vested interest in childcare.
If you were to walk into my very messy office, you would see three numbers on my whiteboard: 90, 72, 84. As someone who cares deeply about my county, my state and their futures, these are the numbers that drive everything I do every day. And here’s why.
It is during this time that our brains are most flexible and adaptable, and in these early years, the emotional and physical health, social skills and cognitive and linguistic capacities emerge that are important for success in school, the workplace and in the larger community. We also know that children entering kindergarten without early education often exhibit a "learning gap" compared to their peers who had access to early childhood education, leading to potential challenges in academic readiness and future success.
Think of a map of Cabarrus County and imagine a circle expanding 25 miles around any spot within it. The US Census Bureau tells us that 72% of people will live and work within 25 miles of where they were born and raised. 72% of our population is our present and future workforce.
In Cabarrus County, 84 percent of students K-12th grade are attending our traditional public and charter schools, and we are investing in developing career pipelines to enable our graduates to enroll, enlist or engage and making sure they know the careers available in Cabarrus County. Once again – economic development
A chamber friend of mine told me years ago, “Chambers aren’t red or blue; we’re green.” And that’s what I’m writing about: the economic impact of investing in childcare is a GREEN issue for all of us.
I – Innovate for Impact - Support childcare solutions that fuel innovation by enabling working parents.
N – Nurture Talent Early – Recognize that tomorrow’s skilled workforce starts with quality early childhood care today.
V – Value Working Families – Invest in childcare to retain top talent and reduce turnover costs.
E – Empower Growth - Childcare access boosts productivity and economic growth by enabling parents to thrive professionally.
S – Secure Future Success – Early investment in children’s development leads to a stronger, more capable workforce.
T – Transform Communities – Businesses that support childcare strengthen communities, driving long-term market growth.
Depending on the surveys you read, North Carolina has been ranked anywhere from first to fourth in the nation for best places to do business. As our North Carolina General Assembly representatives and senators are hard at work on a new budget for the biennium, we encourage them to INVEST in childcare for short-term and long-term results in workforce and economic development.
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