The Gateway Area Development District (GADD) announced today that it has partnered with TPMA, a national workforce and economic development consulting firm, to conduct a regional childcare impact study for the counties of Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan.
“We are eager to get started on the study for our five-county region” said Joshua Farrow, Executive Director of GADD. “The need for childcare is a national workforce challenge, and the Gateway region in east-central Kentucky is no exception. I commend our local governments and key community stakeholders for their leadership and commitment in working together and combining resources to engage TPMA. We are excited to work with the team to evaluate our region’s growth opportunities and to identify possible solutions for work-willing parents and their families.”
TPMA has developed a robust methodology, and the study is already in progress. It is set to conclude in August 2024.
“This study will inform employers, key partners, and elected officials of the true impact that lack of reliable childcare has on the regional economy’s ability to meet its workforce needs” said Kaycee Bunch, Senior Consultant at TPMA. “We look forward to serving GADD and its stakeholders and presenting the potential return on investment for the adoption and implementation of a model to fund and provide affordable childcare.”
About Gateway Area Development District
GADD is the regional council of government and federally designated Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living, along with the federally designated Economic Development District by the Economic Development Administration, serving Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan Counties in east-central Kentucky since 1969. GADD is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of elected officials from the counties and communities within the region as well as non-elected citizen members representing the region’s social and economic institutions. GADD Board and staff are committed to the regional planning, promotion, and coordination of programs for community, infrastructure, economic, and social development.