BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority has announced the launch of the West Virginia Child Care Economic Impact Survey.
Announced in collaboration with the West Virginia Association of Regional Councils with support from the WV Economic Development Council, the survey will help to establish an economic snapshot of the impacts of prospective and existing businesses in relation to child care.
Executive Director for the NRGRDA, Jina Belcher notes the significance of child care as a priority for West Virginia residents.
“The survey aims to gather valuable data to determine how the availability of child care impacts workforce participation, employee retention, and overall business productivity,” said Belcher. “Childcare is a growing priority for existing and new businesses throughout the Mountain State. We want to support the decisions being made by the Governor, state agencies, and the Legislature with real-time data around the issue.”
Belcher also remarked upon the identification of particular needs and issues concerning businesses in relation to childcare which stand to be identified through implementation of the survey. The information gathered by way of the West Virginia Child Care Economic Impact Survey will allow all parties to work in collaboration for the support of workforce and economic growth in West Virginia through targeted solutions, Belcher says.
“Child care funding is facing a looming cliff with pandemic-area funding ending soon. These surveys will help assess and convey the extent to which West Virginia businesses encounter hurdles to child care and also highlight any concerns that prospective businesses looking to branch into the area may have.”
Belcher, herself a working mother, states that the NRGRDA is open to sharing collected data with agencies at the federal and state levels so that it may be implemented as a resource in decisions impacting West Virginians. The survey will remain open until the beginning of the upcoming Legislative sessions.
“There are many facets to the child care dilemma facing West Virginia and the nation,” Belcher says. “We developed the survey instrument as a means for providing current, real-time data to policymakers in the forefront of making decisions that will have both short- and long-term impacts on business and economic development leaders, parents, and children.”
Those interested in completing the survey may do so at the West Virginia Child Care Economic Impact Survey website.
