Business and Workforce Engagement

In a 2017 report, "Workforce of Today, Workforce of Tomorrow", the U.S. Chamber of Commerce noted, "A broad set socially and economically valuable skills start developing in children's very first months, build over time, and are critical determinants of academic and economic success." This inextricable link between a strong start in the early years and a talented future workforce has been recognized and championed by Virginia's business community for many years and is included as a priority in the Virginia Chamber's Blueprint Virginia 2025.

Early Childhood Business Alliance

To drive implementation of Blueprint 2025's early education priorities and bring influential focus to investments at the start of the workforce pipeline, the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce have convened a small group of Virginia executives to lead the charge. Click here to view a list of the Early Childhood Business Alliance members.

The goals of the Early Childhood Business Alliance are:

Ensure Virginia's early childhood system remains a vibrant, community-driven, public-private partnership, bolstering public sector efforts with private sector innovation, flexibility and support
Rally collective agreement and shared vision across key partners including the Administration, legislature, and business community
Support development and enactment of a policy and fiscal framework for early childhood in Virginia (Early Childhood Success Act)
Promote innovative and integrated early childhood financing strategies

Executive Briefing on the Economics of Early Childhood

The Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce are pleased to host an annual Executive Briefing on the Economics of Early Childhood – an event highlighting the direct link between a strong start in the early years and a vibrant productive workforce for the Commonwealth. Speakers, including business executives and leading researchers, focus on the importance of early childhood education for Virginia's economic competitiveness. Below are past speeches and materials.