Community Improvement

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation publishes content on community improvement and related issues. Find and access current and archived items in our database. 

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Bipartisan Policy Center Launch New Partnership to Tackle America’s Child Care Crisis

Amid a national child care crisis, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced the launch of the Early Childhood and Business Advisory Council, a joint initiative between the U.S. Chamber Foundation and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to expand high-quality, affordable child care in communities and states across the United States, to help solve one of the biggest issues facing American families and employers during the pandemic.
24-Hour Care Centers
© Tania Savayan/The Journal News
At 7:30 p.m. on a late summer Thursday, Deloris Hogan was hunched over her kitchen counter cutting up freshly harvested cucumbers, strawberries and red bell peppers from her vegetable garden for six young children at her home in New Rochelle. Her husband, Patrick, standing a few feet away, scraped the cheese off four slices of pizza to accommodate a couple of picky eaters.
CCR&R in America
© 2020 Getty Images
A two-generation approach is needed to ensure today’s workforce can make productive contributions now, while tomorrow’s workforce is prepared and positioned to take on what the future holds. America’s need for high-quality, affordable childcare is so great, it will take efforts by all of us to make the system work. Child Care Aware® of America discusses the grassroots effort of CCR&Rs.
20/20 Vision in South Carolina
© 2020 Getty Images
Nancy Lee Sánchez, Executive Director of the Kaplan Educational Foundation, recently examined the important purpose community colleges serve in the future of workforce development. A key point made is “community colleges are defined differently by those who enroll in them”, in other words, people view community colleges as a pathway towards different goals.
Childcare Efforts in San Diego
© The San Diego Foundation
To better understand the need and childcare challenges that currently exist, The San Diego Foundation partnered with San Diego Workforce Partnership and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce to commission two new reports that outline the regional landscape surrounding early childhood care and the economy.
Talent Forward 2019, Goodwill CEO, Steve Preston
© Ian Wagreich / U.S. Chamber of Commerce

In this first Work in Progress podcast, I sit down with Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries Intl., to discuss the nonprofit’s many training programs designed to help prepare people for work at many stages of their lives. I walked away impressed with all Goodwill does to help build a stronger workforce. I think you will, too.

Accelerating Childcare in Oregon
© Bend Chamber of Commerce
Like much of the nation, Oregon is in a childcare crisis. There are openings for only one in three children under the age of five in registered childcare centers and in-home providers. This is not only a crisis for families seeking affordable and high-quality childcare, it impacts employers who are struggling to attract and retain talent in a record low unemployment environment. 
A Country Lends Itself to Bigness
© Lubbock Economic Development Alliance
Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University (TTU), which has eight satellite campuses located within the “bigness” of the West Texas region: Abilene, Amarillo, El Paso, Fredericksburg, Highland Lakes, Junction, Midland, and Odessa. While you may not be familiar with these towns, you are probably familiar with the problems that face their workforces.

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