MONROE — Childcare is essential families, the workforce and the community. Access to high quality childcare and enriching experiences and interactions are critical for children for their academic, social and emotional development. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on childcare services in their communities.

Quality childcare as a workforce priority will be the topic of Green County Development Corporation’s (GCDC) annual Executive Leadership Breakfast. This year’s Executive Leadership Breakfast, set for 7:45 to 9 a.m. on Dec. 2, will be virtual, with participants joining via a Zoom link. The featured speaker will be Rob Grunewald, economist with the Community Development Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The event is free and open to the public.

Why does childcare matter? The link among access to childcare, parental employment and overall economic growth is becoming more apparent all the time. Businesses rely on their employees, and their employees rely on access to childcare. When problems with childcare arise, parents must scramble to find alternative options or miss work to care for their children.

For Green County parents, that can translate to working fewer hours, taking a pay cut or leaving their jobs altogether. Likewise, the business community is harmed by their employees’ childcare challenges. Nationally, the cost of lost earnings, productivity and revenue due to the childcare crisis totals an estimated $57 billion each year.

GCDC and the United Way of Green County have teamed up to address critical childcare needs. They are encouraging businesses to offer financial assistance to help provide support and resources to childcare providers in Green County. More information on this initiative will be shared at the Executive Leadership Breakfast event and is available online at greencountyedc.com.

While there is no cost to participate, pre-registration for the Executive Leadership Breakfast is requested. Send name and e-mail to gcdc@tds.net. Log-in information will be sent a week prior to the event.