washington business
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.
10 association of washington business