Economic Impact Study on North Carolina Child Care Industry Released Today; New Study Finds Child Care Generates over $1.5 Billion in Direct Revenue.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina's child care industry directly supports the employment of over 46,000 people and generates over $1.5 billion in gross receipts according to a study released today by North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. and the National Economic Development and Law Center (NEDLC). In a press conference held in Raleigh this morning, statewide business and government leaders joined together to hear the results of the study conducted by NEDLC.

"The child care industry is a significant part of North Carolina's economic infrastructure," said Ashley Thrift, Board Chair of the North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. "These small businesses educate and care for our children as well as contribute to the economic well being of the state."

The study, which was the first of its kind in North Carolina, was performed by the National Economic Development and Law Center (NEDLC) and was paid for by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Researchers from NEDLC assessed the direct and indirect impact the child care industry has on North Carolina's economy. The study examined licensed and regulated care across the state. Child care that is legal but is not licensed was not included in the study.

"The findings presented here today demonstrate the importance of accessible high quality care to North Carolina's economic development future," said NEDLC Vice-President, Carolyn D. Hayden. "In measuring the economic impact of the industry, NEDLC takes a conservative approach to its research, assessing direct efforts without using industry linkages, or multipliers. What we found was that the direct efforts, on their own, were very impressive," she added.

The 48-page report was released today to about 150 attendees. North Carolina business and policy leaders joined with representatives of the North Carolina Partnership for Children to discuss this study. Panel members included North Carolina Commerce Secretary Jim Fain; Barry Eveland, IBM Senior State Executive for North Carolina and Chair of NC Citizen's for Business and Industry; Jim Goodmon, President and CEO of Capitol Broadcasting Company; and Andrea Harris, President of the North Carolina Center for Minority Economic Development.

Key points of the study include:

--46,000 people are employed in the child care industry

--Gross receipts totaled $1.5 billion

--Parents of children in licensed and regulated child care earn $6.2 billion

The report makes several recommendations targeted at businesses, government and the child care industry. These recommendations include, but are not limited to:

1) Include child care representatives in local and state planning efforts of workforce development and economic development boards and commissions.

2) Allocate space for child care facilities within business/commerce parks or in close proximity.

3) Fully fund Smart Start and the More at Four pre-kindergarten programs.

4) Expand and institutionalize the T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ programs

To receive a copy of the executive summary and/or the full report, visit www.ncsmartstart.org or www.nedlc.org . For other questions, call Greer Bowen Beaty, Public Information Officer, NCPC [phone] or Jen Wohl, Child Care Program Manager, NEDLC, 510 910-5444.