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Inside
AWB Institute
Making the Business Case for Early Childhood Education
High-quality childcare and education is a good investment that will pay off for both working families and employers with a stronger , happier and more reliable workforce . That ’ s why AWB and the U . S . Chamber of Commerce Foundation ’ s Center for Education and Workforce partnered to highlight the business case for early childhood education at a special event April 17 at the Seattle Airport Marriott .
This one-day event featured a keynote address from Rhian Evans Allvin , CEO of the National Association for the Education of Young Children , and presentations from state leaders and Washington employers , like Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories , that have invested in their own onsite childcare facilities .
Early childhood education is one of the best investments our society can make , advocates say , and private businesses can lead the way . The payoff is significant , proponents say : A better workforce and a stronger economy .
Consider the numbers :
• Forty percent of businesses can ’ t take on more work because they can ’ t fill the jobs they have
• Two-thirds of children under 5 years old live in homes where both parents work , compared to less than 10 percent in 1940
• Employee absences decrease by up to 30 percent and turnover declines by as much as 60 percent when companies provide childcare
• The average cost of full-time , center-based childcare is $ 10,000 a year , which is more than in-state college tuition
Read the U . S . Chamber of Commerce Center for Education and Workforce report online at www . bit . ly / chamberearlychildhood
Leadership Washington ’ s Class of 2018 Hard at Work
Washington ’ s next generation of business leaders are busy learning about the state ’ s diverse economy and political landscape . Thirteen men and women from across the state and many industries began working together in September as the AWB Institute ‘ s Leadership Washington Class of 2018 . This program aims to cultivate a new group of employer , government and nonprofit leaders with a bigger perspective on how the state ’ s diverse industry sectors work together .
The group toured the Tri-Cities in October , which included stops at Broetje Orchards and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory . Students made stops at Starbucks and the Port of Seattle in November , and took part in the 2018 Legislative Day and Hill Climb in Olympia in January . More stops are scheduled as the class makes its way across the state and to graduation at AWB ’ s Spring Meeting in Spokane May 15-16 .
“ Washington is fortunate to have so many economic success stories and to lead the way on so many issues , from energy to information technology to agriculture ,” AWB President Kris Johnson said . “ But maintaining this success will take work . It ’ s critical that future business and government leaders work together to keep our state strong in the face of an ever-more competitive global economy . We ’ re hopeful that Leadership Washington will help our state ’ s future leaders thrive and succeed .”
A quick glance at this year ’ s class includes leaders from the Puget Sound region as well as rural Washington . Participants include employees in the insurance , energy , food production and other industries as well as those working with members of Congress and state government leaders .
Contact AWB Institute Director Amy Anderson at amya @ awb . org or 360.943.1600 to learn more .
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