This opinion article was published on May 17, 2024.
In this opinion article published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Angela Duran, executive director of Excel by Eight, and Crystal Johnson, president and CEO of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, argue that Arkansas’s shortage of affordable, high-quality child care is both a family challenge and a major barrier to economic growth, costing businesses through absenteeism and turnover and keeping parents — especially women — out of the workforce. It highlights the Excel by Eight Business Coalition’s efforts and calls for employers and policymakers to expand child-care benefits, funding, flexibility, and capacity to strengthen families and the state economy.
“Quality child care isn’t just a social or family issue — it’s an economic imperative. By investing in accessible, affordable and high-quality child care, we’re not just supporting families; we’re laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient Arkansas economy.”
