Regional Childcare & Workforce Program
United Way of Central Virginia (UWCV) has launched a initiative to address two critical needs in the region: workforce development and the shortage of quality early childhood care. A 2023 childcare gap analysis by VECF and the JLARC report highlight a childcare crisis limiting workforce participation and employer retention. Additional, surveys by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and Centra Health confirm that access to quality childcare is key to improving community health, economic mobility, and family upward mobility.
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Modeled after a successful program in Abingdon, Virginia, the project will engage schools, higher education institutions, local governments, and corporate partners to enhance workforce attraction, retention, and economic mobility for families.
The project will be housed in a strategically located building in an underserved area, easily accessible to the community.
This location not only addresses the childcare gap but will also create 65 new jobs, significantly boosting the local economy. Furthermore, the center will help increase tax revenue in the area, making it an important investment in the region's future.
Key Issues Identified
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A severe shortage of licensed childcare facilities and public programs.
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High cost of childcare is a barrier to economic advancement for families.
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Lack of quality childcare, especially for low-income families, often forces parents to either leave the workforce or take lower-paying jobs.
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Low labor force participation rates in Lynchburg and surrounding areas, exacerbated by a lack of accessible childcare options.
Key Components
· Licensed Early Childhood Center: Development of a state-of-the-art childcare facility offering early childhood care for up to 300 infants and toddlers, age 0-4.
· Affordable Childcare: Expansion of affordable childcare options for working families and underserved populations.
· Workforce Development Programs: Training and certification programs for childcare professionals, addressing both the current workforce shortage and future demand.
· Corporate Partnerships: Reserved childcare spots for employees of corporate partners, integrating the initiative into workforce retention strategies.
· Collaborative Services Alliance: Strengthening existing childcare providers through partnerships and resource-sharing.
· Training and Certification: A rigorous protocol for training and certifying in Key Components of the Initiative home and private childcare providers.
Objectives and Outcomes
Expand Childcare Capacity: Increase the availability of childcare options, especially for infants and toddlers, in underserved areas.
Develop a Skilled Workforce: Create a well-trained, equitably compensated early childhood workforce, with a focus on increasing the number of certified in-home childcare providers.
Boost Workforce Participation and Retention: By addressing the shortage of quality childcare, we will support both workforce retention and recruitment in the region, particularly for working parents.
Promote Economic Mobility: Enhance upward mobility for families by providing affordable, high-quality childcare that enables parents to stay in or re-enter the workforce, pursue higher-paying jobs, and improve long-term financial stability.
Local Economic Growth: The renovation and operation of the childcare center will create 35 new jobs, contributing to the economic revitalization of the area and generating increased local tax revenue.
Regional Economic Growth: By enabling employers in the rapidly growing manufacturing, nuclear, and technology sectors to leverage childcare as a strategic tool for attracting and retaining skilled employees, this initiative fosters industry expansion and drives economic growth, ultimately generating additional revenue for the region.
Established Alliances
AmeriCorps / Serve Virginia (under DSS)
Bright Beginnings, the Childcare management division of United Way of Central VA
BWX Technologies (corporate partner)
Centra Health
Central Virginia Community College (CVCC)
Central Virginia Planning District Commission (CVPDC)
City of Lynchburg, Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance (LRBA) and SBDC
Virginia Career Works (VCW)
Employer Buy In
The Workforce Retention Child Placement Program provides a unique opportunity for employers to support their employees by reserving childcare spots for the children of their workforce. This program serves as an attractive tool for employers seeking to recruit and retain talent, offering a tangible benefit that addresses a critical need for working families: access to reliable, high-quality childcare.
Employee Tuition Discount
Employees who participate in the program still pay the regular tuition fees, but they will receive a 10% discount off the standard rate for their child’s care.
Contact Kim Soerensen at kim.soerensen@unitedwaycv.org or 434-455-6901
Program Structure
Initial Buy-In: Employers purchase childcare spots for their employees’ children, with a one-time buy-in fee that allows the option to reserve slots annually at the following rates:
$1,500 annually per infant spot
$1,000 annually per spot for all other age groups (toddlers, two-year-olds, preschoolers)
