GMC Panel Explores Early Education, the Workforce, and Economic Development
The Greater Milwaukee Committee’s Education Committee convened a panel on July 21 to explore the intersection of early childhood education (ECE), the workforce and economic development – both in Milwaukee and across the state. The discussion delved into the current state of ECE, as well as what role businesses can play in supporting it.
Danae Davis, Executive Director of Milwaukee Succeeds, participated as a panelist, along with Emilie Amundson, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF); Missy Hughes, Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; and Tamara Johnson, Executive Director of Malaika Early Learning Center. The event was moderated by Jackie Anderson, Director of Raising Wisconsin, and hosted by Joel Brennan, who serves as GMC’s president and a member of Milwaukee Succeeds’ Leadership Table.
Centering Employees’ Needs
First and foremost, businesses need to understand their employees’ needs surrounding child care. According to Amundson, this starts with businesses normalizing conversations about child care in the workplace – especially with working moms, who shoulder much of the burden.
To help facilitate these conversations and help businesses better understand how child care impacts their employees, DCF has put together a sample survey for employers. (Download the document under Project Growth Resources for Partnership > Assistance for Businesses.)
The State of ECE
Businesses also need to understand the current state of ECE. According to Davis, the child care system is broken. Providers can’t afford to pay staff what they deserve without making care too expensive for families. This breakdown has far-reaching effects for Milwaukee.
ECE is part of our community’s infrastructure and ecosystem, said Johnson, and we need to start treating it that way. Hughes agrees. Once the pandemic hit, she said, employers began to recognize the true importance of the industry, but there’s still a long way to go. It’s crucial for business leaders to recognize that child care is not a sustainable business model without their support.
The GMC understands the importance of ECE – as well as their role in supporting it. Their efforts have long been focused on supporting K12 education. By expanding this focus to include ECE, said Brennan, they can contribute to long-term gains in K12, higher education and the city’s workforce.
Resources and Opportunities
According to Amundson, in a tight labor market, the availability of child care can mean the difference between candidates accepting and rejecting a job offer. Employers who offer child care as an employee benefit will be all the more attractive to potential workers. And the state can help. Through their Partner Up program, businesses have the opportunity to purchase subsidized child care slots for their employees.
Businesses and individuals can also add their voice to the collective impact efforts happening across the city and the state. The Milwaukee Succeeds-led ECE Coalition works together to identify and collectively respond to pressing needs in the sector, while the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association-led Raising Wisconsin coalition does similar work at the state level.
Finally, businesses can advocate to policymakers for more public investment in child care – especially heading into the state budget cycle. The 2023-25 state budget will be incredibly important for the sector, said Amundson, as federal COVID relief funds run out, potentially placing additional strain on ECE providers.
