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Child Care and Economic Development
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.
Topical Webinar
Child care is economic development. Across Ohio, communities are discovering that access to affordable, reliable child care is directly tied to workforce participation, business attraction and retention, and long-term economic competitiveness. Employers cannot expand if workers cannot work—and regions cannot compete if families are forced out of the labor force. For economic developers, child care has become a critical piece of the talent and growth equation.
This webinar is designed specifically for economic development professionals and will make the case for child care as a core development strategy, not a peripheral social issue. We will explore why child care matters to Ohio’s economy, how it affects labor force availability in both urban and rural communities, and why it is increasingly part of conversations around site selection, workforce development, and business retention.
Participants include representatives from GroundworkOhio, the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, participants will hear Ohio-based case studies highlighting innovative local and regional approaches to expanding child care capacity. Speakers will share practical examples of partnerships among employers, nonprofits, local governments, and economic development organizations—focusing on what worked, what challenges arose, and what lessons can be applied in other Ohio communities.
The webinar will also examine financial tools and programs that support child care development, with a focus on resources relevant to Ohio, including federal and state tax credits, grants and technical assistance. Attendees will learn about funding mechanisms, incentives, and financing strategies that economic developers can help assemble to support child care facilities and providers—turning a workforce challenge into a tangible, investable solution.
About the Ohio Economic Development Association
The Ohio Economic Development Association is the state’s professional association for economic and community development practitioners, offering networking and learning at our annual events; professional development through the Ohio Economic Development Institute and Ohio Certified Economic Developer (CED) credential; and nonpartisan advocacy on behalf of issues important to growing the state’s economy and supporting our more than 900 members and the communities they serve.
www.ohioeda.com