Vermont Business Magazine: Vermont RDCs support prioritizing childcare investment

Vermont Business Magazine: Today (announced on April 27), the Regional Development Corporations of Vermont (RDCs of VT) announced their collective support for prioritizing investment in an early childhood care and education system that meets the needs of all Vermonters.

The 12 Regional Development Corporations of Vermont are private, non-profit organizations that are key players in driving economic growth in our state. Through their work in each region, the RDCs improve the economy, the standard of living, and the quality of life for Vermonters. The RDCs of VT represent thousands of businesses of every size, and from all sectors and backgrounds.

“As business leaders, community members, and Vermonters, we believe addressing the challenge of early childhood care and education cannot continue to wait,” said Fred Kenney, President of the RDCs of Vermont. “We urge all Vermonters to recognize that publicly funded early childcare is the highest priority investment we can make to ensure a brighter future for our children and our business community.”

To be effective, the goals of early childcare must address the needs of Vermont’s children from birth to kindergarten, must include universal and affordable childcare, and be available to all children in Vermont, without financial barriers. A publicly funded program of quality care that sets standards and ensures that childcare providers are experts trained in early education and are compensated as professionals, must be funded. We recognize that programs to achieve these goals will require a significant investment.

For the RDCs of Vermont, prioritization of early childhood care and education as a primary public investment also means that public revenue sources must be transparent, equitable, competitive, and sustainable. All Vermonters must share the burden. We also believe that a truly impactful system must use data that is accountable to the outcomes produced. Our support stems from the belief that these goals can be achieved while ensuring every Vermont child has access to the care they need.

“The connection between access to high-quality, affordable childcare and the health of our economy has never been clearer,” stated Erika Hoffman-Kiess, Executive Director of the Green Mountain Economic Development Corp. “Without a strong and stable childcare system to support the development of the workforce, our economy cannot recover or grow.”