WASHINGTON, D.C. – The national Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council (ECBAC) announced today that Georgia will join the third cohort of participating states.
The Council is a joint initiative of the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Bipartisan Policy Center to support the expansion of high-quality, affordable child care in communities across the nation. The initiative aims to strengthen connections between the business and early childhood fields in locations where child care has been identified as a priority.
Child care is among the few issues that has bipartisan support both in Washington, D.C. and in state legislatures throughout the country.
"Child care is a family issue, a workforce issue, and an economic issue,” said Linda Smith, director of policy at the Institute. “Addressing the child care crisis requires an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach.”
Child care is a broken business model that contributes to a significant lack of access for many families.
“The business community suffers when parents can’t find child care,” said Aaron Merchen, executive director of policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “The business community brings a vital perspective to the table, and we look forward to Georgia joining the Council.”
Four new states are being added to the Council this year, including New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Georgia. Other states in the Council include Alaska, Montana, Arizona, Alabama, Ohio, South Dakota, North Carolina, Indiana, and Louisiana.
Each state team is made up of key early childhood and business stakeholders. Georgia’s team is led by:
- Mindy Binderman, executive director, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
- Tim Cairl, senior director, talent development, public policy, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
- Hanah Goldberg, director of research and policy, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
- Tiffany Holmes, deputy director of the Georgia Chamber Foundation, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Savannah Taylor, director of research, Georgia Chamber of Commerce