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Ohio's Child Care Cred Program Gains Statewide Attention

  • 1 day ago
  • 3 min read

Ohio's Child Care Cred program is receiving statewide attention in a recent The Columbus Dispatch article examining how employers, families, and the state are working together to expand access to affordable child care while strengthening Ohio's workforce.


Child Care Cred program is an employer-sponsored child care benefit that combines employer contributions with state matching funds to help working families afford child care. The program is designed to strengthen Ohio's workforce by making it easier for employers to recruit and retain talent while expanding access to quality child care.



 The story includes comments from Groundwork Ohio President & CEO Lynanne Gutierrez and highlights the collaborative leadership of Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe), Senator Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester), and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth in advancing employer-supported child care solutions.

 

The Untapped Potential in Ohio report, released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Groundwork Ohio, found that child care challenges cost Ohio's economy an estimated $5.48 billion each year.


Groundwork Ohio's recent statewide voter poll further demonstrates the urgency of addressing Ohio's child care challenges:


  • Child care is in crisis. Nearly 80% of Ohio voters say the ability of working parents to find and afford quality child care is either in a "state of crisis" or a "major problem."

  • Child care drives workforce participation. More than one-third of Ohio voters (34%)—including 56% of Ohio parents—say they or someone they know would consider entering the workforce if quality child care were available.

  • Child care shapes voting behavior. By a margin of more than two to one, Ohio voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate from the opposite political party if that candidate advanced policies to help working families afford quality child care.

 

The growing attention around Child Care Cred also reflects the broader work underway to help employers invest in child care. Groundwork Ohio has developed resources to help businesses better understand Ohio's Child Care Cred program and the Enhanced 45F Tax Credit, making it easier to identify opportunities to support employees while benefiting their organizations.

 

In addition, Groundwork Ohio's Business Innovation in Child Care: Case Studies Across Ohio, developed in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, showcases employer-led solutions from across the state. Among the featured initiatives is the Alliance Employment Promise, which is also recognized in the Columbus Dispatch article as an example of how employers are partnering to expand child care access for working families.

 


This work continues through Groundwork Ohio's Business Coalition for Child Care Solutions, which brings together employers, business leaders, and partners committed to advancing innovative strategies and public policies that strengthen Ohio's workforce by improving access to affordable, high-quality child care.

 

We're encouraged to see continued momentum around employer-supported child care and the growing recognition that child care is not only a family issue—it's an economic imperative. As more businesses, policymakers, and community leaders work together, Ohio has an opportunity to build a stronger child care system that supports children, families, employers, and communities alike.

 

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