81 Local Chambers of Commerce Urge Pennsylvania General Assembly to Strengthen Child Care Workforce Investments in Final State Budget
A growing coalition of 81 local chambers of commerce from across Pennsylvania is urging members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to continue investing in the child care workforce as part of the final 2026-27 state budget.
The coalition, led by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and joined by chambers representing communities in every region of the commonwealth, delivered a sign-on letter to state lawmakers calling for additional investments in the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program as well as the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs.
The letter emphasizes that Pennsylvania’s child care crisis is not only a family issue, but also a workforce and economic development challenge. Employers across the commonwealth continue to report that working parents are struggling to find and afford quality child care, making it harder to fill open positions, maintain productivity, and support local economic growth.