The City of Wichita is partnering with local agencies in presenting a summit for businesses and family child care providers this weekend.

The ICT Child Care Entrepreneurs Summit will provide education on the importance of childcare as a benefit for recruiting and retaining workers. In-home childcare providers will be introduced to free resources – from data gathering to funding opportunities to business development – which will allow them to position themselves as entrepreneurs.

Wichita City Council member Becky Tuttle said in a press release, “We know access to quality childcare is one of the barriers to recruitment and retention of a talented workforce, which is a key lever in growing our local economy.  This summit is a local response to the increasing demand for reliable childcare solutions, and aims to foster dialogue among business leaders, childcare providers, and policymakers on innovative strategies and partnerships.”

The summit provides various activities for participants:

·         Learn about the latest trends and solutions in childcare that can benefit your organization.

·         Engage with childcare providers to explore potential partnerships and collaborations.

·         Discover how investing in childcare can lead to a more productive, satisfied, and loyal workforce.

·         Network with other business leaders who share a commitment to supporting their employees’ needs.

A grant from the National League of Cities was used to develop the summit, and it was organized in partnership with the City of Wichita, Child Start, Greater Wichita Partnership, Wichita State’s Public Policy and Management Center, and Workforce Alliance of South-Central Kansas.

The summit will take place Saturday, July 27th in the Beggs Ballroom of the Rhatigan Student Center at Wichita State University.  The times will be 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. for family childcare providers, and  11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for attendees from the business community.