Chambers of Commerce span the country, regionally and locally, and are comprised of members that engage in networking, advocacy, and collaboration to address issues and create opportunities for the business community. Chambers have a longstanding history, as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was created in 1912 – more than 100 years ago! Since then, chambers have expanded significantly, with many states and counties having their own chamber of commerce.
In recent years, there has been an increased focus on how child care impacts the health of businesses as employees are challenged by affordability and lack of access to high quality child care. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation published a report, Public-Private Partnerships Fueling Childcare Innovation (2022-2025), about how states have been working with the public and private sectors on hard-to-solve issues related to the cost and accessibility of child care. The business community is engaging more deeply than ever before around the essential role child care plays in parents’ ability to be full participants in the workforce.
The report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation highlights progress in ten states. To share an example from the report, it describes efforts in Tennessee to make funding – via Non-Profit/Employer Workforce (NEW) Care Partnerships Grants from the Tennessee Department of Human Services – available to expand child care access or capacity so that employers’ workforce needs are met. The report describes how this could mean expanding slots, creating new centers on site at a business, and may include other costs like child care staffing or facilities improvements. Interestingly, when the grants first launched, they were only available to support non-profit child care providers. It was soon realized that many child care providers are for-profit agencies. Now, they too may participate. This is an important distinction to broaden the impact, as there are different types of child care providers that operate under a variety of business models!
We’ve also noticed intentional efforts of chambers to elevate child care as a key to a strong economy. Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry released public policy recommendations to address child care challenges that, in turn, will help to address workforce shortages in the state. The policy recommendations recognize that lack of child care access is a barrier to employment. They focus on alleviating staffing shortages in the child care sector, reducing administrative burden and the time required to open new child care facilities, and addressing rising insurance costs for child care providers. Child care providers are an important voice in what is needed for change.
These are just a few examples of how child care is gaining momentum as one of the most important factors in solving workforce challenges and promoting economic growth in communities. As a provider of services to children, families, or communities, have you considered how your work could be enhanced through collaboration with your local chamber? You might already be a member, and we’d love to hear how you’ve leveraged relationships to advance your work! If you’re interested in learning more about what chambers are focusing on in your area, consider exploring. You can identify your local chamber, many of which have websites that list events, highlight topics of interest, and provide information about the cost and process to join.
This fall, Foundations for Families team members will attend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Solves Conference. We look forward to learning about how businesses are working together to solve some of the most complex challenges in communities. We hope to hear about ways that child care is a part of workforce solutions!
Foundations for Families offers a variety of consulting services to state and community-based organizations. If your agency needs assistance understanding or meeting the needs of your community, we may be able to help. Please reach out and we would be glad to discuss your program’s needs.
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