Letter: Quality child care is vital to growing our workforce
23 May 2019
My wife Mary and I are the proud parents of two-year old twins. Raising them is the most amazing thing we’ve ever had the opportunity to do - so every morning when I leave for work, it’s hard to say goodbye.
But you know what makes it a lot easier?
Knowing they’re going to grow and learn all day long, thanks to the excellent child care we have available.
Unfortunately, for many Minnesota families, excellent childcare (or any child care at all, for that matter) is simply not available.
The number of licensed family child care providers has decreased almost 30 percent in Minnesota since 2005. The problem is especially acute in Greater Minnesota. I hear about it every day when I speak with businesses and interest groups across the state. Families need two incomes to make ends meet, but without any child care available, they have to get by on one.
More Topics
Enticing Businesses to Stay
May 22 2019Trying to attract businesses from outside the community or launching startup businesses are key economic development activities. However, economic developers generally agree that the most practical strategy for growth is Business Retention and Expansion, or keeping established businesses in the community.
Enticing Businesses to Stay, co-authored by Michael Darger, University...
Improving Our Competitive Grantmaking at DEED
May 21 2019The mission of DEED is to grow the economy of Minnesota for everyone. One of the most important ways we pursue that mission is through partnerships. Minnesota is home to many nonprofit and civic organizations who are building innovative solutions to help Minnesotans from all backgrounds find meaningful employment across...
Recently appointed Assistant Commissioner of Economic Opportunity Hamse Warfa has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development here at DEED. In this role, Warfa will continue to lead the Office of Economic Opportunity, and will also take on leadership of Employment and Training Programs, CareerForce, and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board.
Warfa’s experience in the philanthropic/nonprofit...