FORT MYERS, Fla. - TelAve -- Collaboratory, (Southwest Florida's regional community foundation), the Hendry County Economic Development Council (EDC), Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College, and the City of LaBelle have partnered to launch a community outreach initiative to better understand childcare needs across Hendry County.

The initiative builds on the City of LaBelle's June 11 resolution authorizing an assessment of local childcare programs, needs, and barriers affecting families and providers. By gathering input from families, childcare providers, employers, and other community stakeholders, the assessment will guide future strategies to strengthen childcare access and support Hendry County's workforce and economy. Residents, parents, employers, and childcare providers are encouraged to share their experiences through a brief community survey (https://www.tfaforms.com/5227824) that will help guide future investments and solutions.

Access to affordable, high-quality childcare is critical to both family well-being and a strong workforce. When childcare is unavailable, parents often reduce work hours or leave the workforce altogether, impacting employers and the regional economy. By gathering community input, Collaboratory and the Hendry County EDC aim to identify specific barriers and develop actionable long-term, systems-level solutions.

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This effort is part of Collaboratory's broader partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation to strengthen early learning and workforce outcomes in the region and across Florida. Through the Florida 2030 Blueprint (https://www.flchamber.com/florida-2030/), the Florida Chamber Foundation recognizes that improving access to high-quality early learning is essential to increasing workforce participation today while preparing today's learners to be tomorrow's earners. Findings from this assessment will help inform local planning in Hendry County while contributing to statewide conversations around early learning, economic mobility, and workforce development through Collaboratory's unique data-sharing partnership with the Florida Chamber Foundation.

Research from the Florida Chamber Foundation consistently demonstrates that early childhood experiences are among the strongest predictors of long-term educational and economic success. Across Florida, communities continue working to strengthen kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, and access to affordable, high-quality childcare because these factors are closely connected to workforce participation and long-term economic mobility. Local assessments like this help communities identify solutions that meet their unique needs while contributing to broader statewide efforts to prepare today's learners to become tomorrow's earners.

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The survey will explore:

• Childcare availability and waitlists
• Affordability challenges
• Gaps in hours of operation
• Workforce impacts on families and employers
• Childcare provider staffing and capacity
• Underserved areas and populations

Community members can participate by:

• Completing the online survey: Link to the form (https://www.tfaforms.com/5227824)
• Emailing comments to keitha@hendryedc.com
• Attending upcoming community listening sessions

NOTE: All responses are confidential and will be used to guide local planning while contributing to regional and statewide efforts to strengthen early learning and workforce systems.