Virginia Chamber Integrates Early Childhood Education into State Strategic Plan

In 2021, the Virginia Chamber worked with a diverse array of stakeholders to ensure statewide representation its strategic plan to improve the state’s economic climate - Blueprint Virginia 2030. This action plan outlines 11 industry-focused areas to position the state as a leader in the global economy with the goal of being the best state in the nation for business.

Like many states, Virginia is seeing challenges with access to quality, affordable child care, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost two-thirds of Virginia parents reported that they or someone in their household took time off, reduced their hours or quit their job because of the lack of access to early childhood education. This leaves employers struggling to fill open positions to meet current market demands. 

The Virginia Chamber’s Blueprint 2030 addresses these challenges and states that there must be bold, intentional actions to expand early learning and child care access. The plan lays out several strategies:

• Encourage employer policies and strategies that support access to high-quality, affordable early learning and child care for families
• Expand public-private partnerships, community provider delivery of preschool services, and child care subsidies with broadened eligibility and improved allocation practices to increase affordable access to child care for families
• Bolster the workforce that supports early learning and child care by ensuring access to affordable, competency-building credentials, competitive compensation, and retention and development strategies

No single sector can solve these systemic problems; long-term solutions will require innovative public-private partnerships to meet evolving community needs. Chambers are uniquely positioned to convene regional stakeholders to address the challenges preventing economic prosperity in their regions. The Virginia Chamber shows how chambers can take the lead on developing strategic recommendations based on the needs of both business and the workforce.