As state director, I have the opportunity to visit with community leaders, small business owners and employers across the state. One reoccurring theme I hear in communities is the concern about

limited access to quality child care. Parents are concerned about finding care for their children, employers are concerned about losing quality employees, and existing childcare providers are concerned about retaining their workforce. 

As a parent and someone who manages employees, I understand how important it is to know that our children are being cared for in a safe environment and how immobilizing it can be when a working family cannot find child care.
 

The staff at USDA Rural Development will do all they can to leverage our programs, expertise and resources to help in the development and expansion of child care facilities. On October 2nd, 2012 we are partnering with Child Care Resource and Referral to host a statewide Child Care Summit. This summit will be comprised of child care experts, business leaders, employers, and leaders who are working to develop solutions to relieve North Dakota's child care crisis. Please consider attending and click here for more information.

At a time of unprecedented opportunity, we need to ensure that our children remain our priority. Not only is it important to economic development and to maintaining and growing our workforce, but investing in our children is the most important investment we can make in our future.