Let’s Grow Kids congratulates wave of candidates committed to child care systems-change this coming legislative session
Burlington, VT – Today, Let’s Grow Kids (LGK), the state’s leading child care advocacy organization, congratulated the wave of child care change-makers elected to local, statewide and federal office yesterday. Official results have yet to be certified but based on unofficial projections by the Secretary of State’s Office, it’s estimated that at least 117 incumbents and new lawmakers were elected to serve who have committed to prioritizing child care systems-change once in office. Topping the declared winners list were child care supporters Senator-elect Peter Welch, Congresswoman-elect Becca Balint and Governor Phil Scott.
“Tuesday’s election was historic in so many ways. For the first time, Vermonters now have a coalition of over 100 elected lawmakers, heading to Montpelier and Washington D.C., who are ready to prioritize public investment in our child care system,” said Aly Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow Kids. “We want to congratulate and thank the candidates who ran on the commitment to ending the child care crisis and honor their public service to our state. “We also want to thank the thousands of child care voters who turned out in record numbers to help us propel these candidates to victory.”
Sam Hooper, CEO of Vermont Glove, a 100 plus year-old manufacturing company based in Randolph, was among dozens of business leaders active in the child care campaign who engaged candidates and encouraged them to make child care their top priority. He said, “This election is the validation Vermont needed, that child care should continue to be the top priority for our elected officials. Solving the child care crisis will address so many other challenges facing our state, like enabling more young families to move to Vermont and allowing more parents to enter the workforce, and supporting businesses like mine to grow and innovate. I am very excited for the work ahead.”
Candidates up and down the ticket highlighted child care as a top issue and pledged support for solving Vermont’s child care crisis, starting with increased public investment, this coming legislative session. According to Let’s Grow Kids, approximately 8,700 children don’t have access to the child care they need. Providing these children with access to high-quality, affordable child care would enable at least 5,000 Vermont parents to enter or re-enter the workforce. Significant public investment in Vermont’s child care system will help the economy grow, ensure early childhood educators are valued and professionally compensated, and provide thousands of children with the child care they need.
“This is a huge win for our struggling workforce and economy, for child care programs and early childhood educators, and the children and families of Vermont,” Richards added. “With steadfast support at the federal level as well as in the governor’s office and the General Assembly, Vermont is poised to make lasting change. We are excited to roll up our sleeves and support this work.”
Learn more about Vermont’s Child Care Campaign here.
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About Vermont's Child Care Campaign
Vermont's Child Care Campaign is led by Let’s Grow Kids, a nonprofit organization on a mission to ensure affordable access to high-quality child care for all Vermont families by 2025. With nearly 40,000 supporters, Let’s Grow Kids, in partnership with Let’s Grow Kids Action Network, is empowering Vermonters to advocate for sustainable child care policy change. Learn more at www.letsgrowkids.org.