With a strong commitment to invest in resources that will ensure success, Iowa's Collins Aerospace partnered strategically to grow a grassroots early childhood education initiative into the Collins Aerospace Day Academy, providing high-quality childcare to its employees and, when possible, the broader community.

After recognizing a high demand for childcare in Montana relative to supply that was impacting the region's workforce participation, the Missoula Chamber emerged as a leader in solving the region's childcare challenges, uniquely positioned to convene and coordinate a community collaborative response.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber has created a model to convene and unite local businesses, childcare providers, school administrators, and other community leaders to identify what works for their community, increase the state's focus on early ed as an economic issue, and advocate with one voice for the right solutions.

San Mateo County had a childcare shortage crisis. Using data to position early childhood education as an infrastructure challenge, Build Up SMC is growing and improving the supply of childcare and early learning programs through advocacy, strategic partnerships, and making early learning conversations a priority.

PNC understands that starting at an early age to develop the workforce of the future is the right thing to do for children and communities. PNC Grow Up Great,® a multiyear, bilingual initiative was created to help children from birth through age five develop a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime – and can help set them on a path to success.

Home Depot follows a simple premise: Put customers and associates first and the rest will take care of itself. To meet a range of employee needs, The Home Depot created a suite of childcare support services, including on-site childcare, backup childcare, and dependent care through a partnership with Bright Horizons.

Over the past 15 years, business leaders in Minnesota have partnered with advocacy groups and the public sector to develop strategies to close the achievement gap by improving the accessibility, affordability, and quality of childcare in Minnesota. The business community has been credited with catalyzing improvements to the childcare system and garnering increased public attention and investment. This case study looks at how these sectors came together, what they have been able to accomplish, and key lessons learned. 

Across the state, chambers of commerce, business alliances, companies, and nonprofits have recognized this problem and now view high-quality childcare as a two-generation solution to solving some of the state’s most pressing challenges. Together, these groups have played a critical role in catalyzing improvements and garnering increased public attention and investment. This case study looks at how business leaders became advocates and joined forces with policymakers, educators, and others in the community to improve the childcare system.