“Families cannot find childcare. They can’t afford it, and they can’t find it.”
Chana Edmond-Verley, CEO of Vibrant Futures, a non-profit family support organization, focuses on the 13-county West Michigan region.
“We've got almost five children per childcare slot in the region. So that's on average. But we have some counties that have as many as nine children.”
The summit called “Driving Michigan Prosperity Through Strategic Childcare Partnerships” highlighted cross-sector partnerships combining housing and childcare solutions.
Jennifer Heinzman leads the Barry County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Alliance.
“We took the approach six years ago that if we're going to build a new housing development, it needs to have a community piece as well, or else we're not going to be as involved as we would with any other projects.”
Heinzman pointed to vacant properties, churches and corporate sites as key development targets along with new developments, stressing the need to educate investors about options.
“There are grants available if you're providing something that the state is focused on, and the state is focused on childcare. So, when you add this in, that opens up another whole door of incentives, too.”
Leaders emphasized the shortage directly impacts the economy.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation finds childcare gaps costs Michigan nearly $2.9 billion annually in lost productivity, wages and income taxes.
For a weekly dose of news right to your inbox, sign up for the WGVU newsletter.
