As a business leader who cares deeply about Collier County’s long-term prosperity, I’ve long understood the link between our talent supply and our quality of life. But what’s become clearer than ever is this: We will not solve our workforce challenges if we don’t address child care and early learning.
The new Collier County Early Learning Landscape Analysis, produced by the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Business Alliance for Early Learning and commissioned by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), makes that connection undeniable. This study isn’t just about education – it’s about economic infrastructure.
Local data show that 73% of child care providers report having to place families on waitlists due to full capacity and 60% of parents say they’ve had trouble finding available child care slots. The problem is compounded by affordability. More than 60% of parents say cost is a major barrier, and most don’t qualify for the state’s child care tuition assistance program. Meanwhile, employers across the county are struggling to fill jobs and families are forced to make impossible choices – like leaving the workforce entirely – because care for their children is either unavailable or unaffordable…