Childcare Initiative

The Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce’s child care initiative aims to address a growing workforce challenge - the need for the workforce to have access to quality, affordable child care in the Missoula area. 
 
Our research found that a lack of child care in Missoula is severely impacting the workforce, with many parents scaling back or leaving their careers entirely due to child care issues. Employers face challenges in retaining employees and attracting new ones. Parents who wish to return or remain in the workforce need a place for their children to learn and grow. Encouraging growth in this vital industry has become a key initiative for the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce.
 
To date, the work of the Chamber in the realm of child care has led to recognition on the local, state and national level – including an invitation to the White House to discuss the role Chambers can play in helping address this important workforce need. We have completed two surveys, created seven community models, and made the connections that led to the first for-profit business in a vacant county school building.

Status Updates

- Supporting Child Care Task Force proposal at 2021 Legislative session.
- Collaborating with area child care providers and advocates to address continued need for additional 0-5 aged child care.
- Collaborating with area child care providers and advocates to address growing need for school-aged child care.
- Working with Missoula County Public Schools to identify opportunities to use vacant school buildings for child care.

childcare resources

childcare in the news

Our Story

In the fall of 2018, the Chamber surveyed the business community to better understand the need for quality, affordable childcare and it's impact on the workforce. With more than 550 responses, we found that there were over 1,000 children on a waiting list to receive care. Further, 47% of respondents indicated they had either scaled back or abandoned their career due to a lack of childcare options. 

By the fall of 2019, three of the proposed models have begun to see movement. A local business, opened their own child care facility within their business for their employees. Cold Springs, an abandoned elementary school, will be renovated to create a new child care facility for over 150 children by Mark Roberts of Missoula Early Learning Center. And, Missoulians have partnered with franchises to create their own in-home centers. 

Chamber Models

MODEL #1
The creation of a child care facility that is housed within the business for their employees.

MODEL #2
Develop and existing large capacity child care facility into a campus for a single large employer.

MODEL #3
Collaboration between two or more businesses to combine efforts to create a facility for their sector of town.

MODEL #4
Utilize a vacant school building to open a new, or expand and existing, facility. 

MODEL #5
Incorporate a child care facility in current development projects. 

MODEL #6
Develop a child care center in a shopping center. 

MODEL #7
Partner those not returning to their career with a franchise to open an in-home child care center. 

Download our 2020 survey results and summary.

Download

Related Articles

Read the full story in the Funders For Montana's Children article

Read

At The White House

In December 2019, the CEO of Missoula Chamber, Kim Latrielle, was invited to take part in a summit at the White House about child care and family leave. The leadership shown by Missoula Chamber in addressing this important workforce and community need was recognized by the highest levels of government. They were asked to take part in the event and share the lessons they have learned along the way, while explaining the models identified in Missoula.  The Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce was one of just a few Chambers at the summit, illustrating the Chamber's role as a catalyst for change in our community. 

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Download our initial 2018 survey results and summary.

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