The early childhood care and education field is at an exciting moment. Across the US, there is increasing recognition of child care as an important piece of social infrastructure that has broad public benefits—from its impact on children’s development, to its role in facilitating parents’ employment. A growing number of studies show the economic benefits from public investment in early childhood care and education, and policy leaders are beginning to reframe the issue as economic development, rather than welfare policy. Across the country, communities are developing innovative methods of financing child care, taking responsibility for ensuring quality, affordable child care for all.

This website provides examples of how to assess the local and regional economic impact of the child care sector. It also provides examples of how Tompkins County, New York is using this approach to increase private sector support for child care. A section on research and innovative approaches describes what other communities are doing and what the experts say.

Research assistance for the Partnership has been provided by Cornell University students in Mildred Warner’s workshop classes in Spring 2000 and 2002.