The child care crisis in Iowa is not just a concern for parents and employers - it impacts the entire community. As you work to expand or create new buisnesses, key factors like available housing, sufficient roads and infrastructure must be part of your economic development strategy. But one crucial element is often overlooked: child care.
Child care is essential community infrastructure - just like housing and roads. It plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth, creating opportunities for wrokforce development, and building a sustainable future for all. By priortizing child care, communities can attract businesses, support families and cultivate a strong reliable workforce.
Investing in child care ensures that your community can thrive, both now and in the future.
Child care is not just a family issue- it's a community and economic issue. By viewing child care as a key part of economic development, communities can unlock significant benefits.
Stronger local economy - Communities thrive when parents have access to affordable, high-quality child care. It allows parents to join and stay in the workforce, helping to create a vibrant, growing economy.
Attracting and Retaining Qualified Employees and New Businesse
Increasing Employee Earnings and Tax Revenu
Building a Stronger Future Workforc
Stronger Local Workforce - When children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environments, parents can focus more on their work, increasing productivity and stability across the community.
Increased Workforce Productivity
Increased Number and Quality of Job Applicants
Increased Workforce Retention
By incorporating child care into the economic development strategy, communities can foster growth, build a stronger workforce, and create a lasting, positive impact for families and businesses alike.
Be Informed with Data - Learn more about the current landscape of child care in your county.
Provide Resources - Ensure all families are aware of CCR&R services. Sharing information and linking to the CCR&R website can help families find child care option and supports.
Tax Benefits - Explore potential tax benefits available for employers to help employees wtih chid care costs.
Advocate in your Community - Speak out about state initiatives and support local economic development
Continuum of care
Statewide solution fund
Student tuition organization for preschool
Workforce retention
Access to child care
Educate Leaders - Connect with your Legislators and encourage solutions for high-quality child care and early learning settings.
Contact a Specialist
Starting the Conversation Around Child care Solutions: Child care is an essential part of a community's critial infrastructure. When creating strategies for your community's economic development, don't forget to include planning around child care. CCR&R can help facilitate discussions and solutions in your community, think of us as your conversation guide.
Resources for communities from Iowa Women's Foundation:
The ultimate goal of CCR&R is to support communities to access affordable, high-quality child care. CCR&R staff is willing to meet with employers, economic develpment boards and communities to discuss the needs of families and children that will impact the local workforce.
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Iowa Workforce Development - Videos of Success
CCR&R local stories regarding Child Care Across Iowa
Child care is an essential need for our community and our growth. Child Care Resource & Referral was able to assist with starting the conversations around child care solutions for us. - Stephanie, Economic Development Board member