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In a follow-up to a survey about the need for child care services in the Rockbridge area that was conducted over the summer, three public meetings are being held Oct. 10 and 18 to gather additional citizen input on this vital issue.
The initial findings of the survey will be presented and public comments will be received at these meetings. Those who operate a child care center in the Rockbridge area or are interested in opening one are encouraged to attend one of these meetings. The meetings will be held Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the Lexington Presbyterian Church, 120 S. Main St., from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and at the Mountain Gateway Community College Rockbridge Center, 35 Vista Links Drive, Buena Vista, on Friday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The meetings are being conducted by Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Inc. (SERCAP) in partnership with the city of Lexington and the economic development offices of Rockbridge County and Buena Vista.
“Child care is an issue facing many communities across the commonwealth of Virginia and nation. Many families struggle to find adequate professional care for their children, leading many to focus on home care or withdraw from the workforce,” said Brian Brown, business services lead for SERCAP. “By understanding the challenges families are facing in the community, we can better provide recommendations to help meet current and future needs of the Rockbridge region around childcare.”
A June survey of small business owners performed by Goldman Sachs determined that 38 percent of small businesses indicated a lack of child care has had a negative effect on their ability to operate or grow their business. Additionally, more than one in three employees have been forced to cut work hours or remove themselves from the workforce due to availability and cost of child care. The local study has taken an early look at workforce effects and will seek additional information from employers in the region prior to a final report being issued.
The child care study has been managed by Devin Journiette, an economic recovery fellow with the International Economic Development Council. “Early results have pointed to many needs as families struggle with the cost and the ability to find adequate child care. We encourage you to attend one of the sessions in order to make sure all voices are represented,” said Journiette.
