President’s Message: Little Scissors and Small Tables

by Chris Berleth, President

I’ve been a part of some pretty cool ribbon cuttings in my nine years in the Chamber industry - a pizza cutter was used for the dedication of a new pizza oven, a chainsaw cut a large log for the grand opening of a new tree care business, a barber’s straight-edge cut the ribbon on a new barber shop, and a dog grooming business had matching cocker spaniel topiaries – but yesterday was my favorite so far.  Thirteen pairs of safety scissors were distributed to tiny hands as we cut the ribbon alongside Columbia Child Development Center, celebrating 60 years of Head Start.

It was nice to celebrate a win related to childcare.  As you know, it’s been a continual concern for the region, where, as the Chamber has reported for years, Columbia and Montour Counties are in a ‘childcare desert’.  This challenge is not unique to us, as across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, childcare gaps are estimated to cost the economy nearly $6.5 billion per year.  Two major challenges plague the childcare industry, and these issues are universally agreed upon.  First, there’s a lack of teachers, classrooms and facilities, and second, there’s a gross undervaluing of childcare workers and thereby, childcare workers are insufficiently paid.  We don’t have enough places to teach our young ones, and when we do, they struggle to keep and pay their workers.

To address this crisis, which gravely impacts the availability of workers in the region, a multifaceted approach must be taken, and your Chamber has joined a coalition of 55 chambers and business organizations advocating for support for the childcare industry in a major push across the state.

We’re being heard, but change is slow-moving.

I’m delighted to share that this Friday, several childcare providers will gather with leaders to tour a local provider facility, learn of the specific woes facing providers in areas of Columbia and Montour counties.  The challenge we have of course, is that like the size of the safety scissors, we’re burdened with small tables too.  I mean to say, to prevent disruption to the learning experience of each of the children in the facilities we’re meeting with, and to minimally impact an industry stretched thin by understaffing, we’re meeting in considerably smaller groups than we’d like to get the point across.  The good news is that there’s a general attitude by our leaders that this is a critical issue, and that this event Friday must be the first part of a traveling tour of our region’s childcare facilities as we push for change.  We’ll be sure to keep you looped in as we connect with leaders to grow the region.  If you’d like to be part of our push to advocate for childcare in the region, please consider participating in next Friday’s Governmental Affairs meeting, by emailing me at cberleth@columbiamontourchamber.com.