THE FOUNDATION OF AGENCY: INVESTING IN CHILDCARE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SECURE LOCAL WORKFORCE WEALTH IN VANCE COUNTY

At the request of rural Vance County commissioners, the authors evaluated community assets and systemic barriers to workforce growth and sustainability through the Vital Conditions framework of Meaningful Work and Wealth. This analysis revealed a self-reinforcing cycle of poverty, underemployment and incomplete academic advancement driven by early parenthood, low college readiness, and inadequate childcare. The authors propose an integrated, five-step childcare initiative focused on working parents of children under age 8. Targeting these younger parents, the initiative seeks to interrupt generational economic stagnation by aligning childcare infrastructure with employer schedules, reducing workforce turnover, improving resident financial stability, creating new community jobs and increasing attractiveness to new employers to strengthen the tax base, growth and long-term economic competitiveness. This initiative is designed for sustainability through a blended funding strategy, dedicated cross-sector governance, and continuous quality improvement methods that demonstrate measurable impact to funders and the community.