Missouri lawmakers continue effort to combat child care shortage

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – With a majority of the state in a childcare desert, lawmakers are pulling out all the stops to help businesses, families and providers. This includes the idea of splitting the costs of child care.

According to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the state’s economy is losing out on more than a billion dollars a year due to a lack of childcare. It’s no longer just an issue for working families, as employers also struggle to find workers. The lawmaker behind this proposal thinks his plan could be a recruiting tool for businesses.

“Employers could opt into the program and the incentive here is that they are providing something that their competitors aren’t,” Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, said.

The full article is available at ozarksfirst.com.

(Story by Megan Mueller, Emily Manley, ozarksfirst.com)