As we embark upon another school year, it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our children, truly the foundation of our future. The joys we gain as parents, families, teachers, coaches, caregivers—the village—are immeasurable. But of course with those joys comes great responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is ensuring each child gets off to the very best start. Hindering that effort is our childcare crisis. In our community, we are facing this crisis head-on.
The national nonprofit Council for a Strong America’s workgroup, ReadyNation, conducted studies in 2018 and in 2023 to examine our country’s childcare options. The 2023 updated study found that the nation’s infant-toddler childcare crisis now costs a staggering $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue every year, and that this toll has more than doubled since their first study in 2018. This staggering economic toll impacts working parents, their employers and the nation’s taxpayers.
In our state, about 1.28 million children are under the age of 6 and, by some estimates, it costs more to provide childcare to these kids than it will cost to send them to college. According to a 2025 analysis from Florida TaxWatch, the Sunshine State loses about $1.5 billion per year due to absenteeism from employees who can’t find childcare.
Here in Alachua County, the numbers are no better. Childcare is costing families $83 million in lost earnings, businesses $53 million in lost productivity and taxpayers $19 million in lower tax revenue.
The long overlooked childcare industry is not just about education, it is economic infrastructure. Strong childcare businesses allow parents to remain in the workforce, support business productivity and contribute to the region’s economic vitality. Recognizing the swelling crisis post-pandemic, in 2022, the Greater Gainesville Chamber, the Children’s Trust of Alachua County, the Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County and the Business Leadership Institute for Early Learning came together to launch a bold new initiative, the Business Leadership Institute (BLI) Master Class Series.
This pioneering program was designed with one clear goal: to empower childcare business owners with the tools, strategies and support they need to thrive, ensuring that families across Alachua County have greater access to high-quality, sustainable early learning opportunities.
Now, to better understand the continuing complexities of this crisis locally, we are again partnering with the Children’s Trust, the Early Learning Coalition, the United Way of North Central Florida and BLI to host a Community Conversation on Childcare, with the mission to “unlock economic growth through childcare solutions.”
This dynamic roundtable discussion will explore the business of childcare through the lens of employers, local businesses, elected officials, economic stakeholders and childcare businesses and explore solutions to the continuing challenge of childcare access, affordability and quality.
This workshop will be entirely locally focused and solution-driven. We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, October 9th, at the Santa Fe College Blount Center. Visit Community Conversation on Childcare for more information and to register.
Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series of business columns sponsored by Pavlov Media.