VIEWPOINT | Bipartisan solutions needed to fix child care crisis

Guest column by Jessica Meyers, owner of Porchlight, a talent recruitment firm

With election season behind us and a new Congress and administration in office, it’s time for our leaders in Washington to prioritize policies that support and empower small businesses—the backbone of our communities and a driving force for local growth.

One of the most persistent challenges facing small businesses is the ability to compete with larger companies to attract and retain employees. As the owner of a talent recruitment firm focused on rural communities, I understand the importance of safe and affordable child care in small towns. Many times, families make the difficult decision to have a parent drop out of the workforce because the expense of child care takes an entire paycheck. That parent has been out of the workforce for years and, upon reentry, has difficulty making up the professional ground and will be on a lower pay trajectory.

In rural communities, in-home child care providers and child care centers are considered essential services and are listed on the community website for new residents to seek out before moving to the community. When local child care options are limited, families are forced to seek child care in neighboring towns, starting a domino effect of enrolling kids into the neighboring town’s school district, chipping away at the rural community's economy.

Small businesses are doing the best they can with limited staff. And offering competitive wages, healthcare reimbursement, retirement options and time off to employees are all large financial burdens that must be offered to attract a competitive workforce. Covering child care costs is a luxury benefit that small businesses just can’t afford. When child care becomes an issue for an employee, whether the cost or the lack of availability, everyone suffers.

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