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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partnered with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Excel by Eight Foundations to understand how much breakdowns in childcare are currently costing Arkansas.

The Chamber Foundation partnered with the Arizona Chamber on this report to better understand the unique needs of working parents in Arizona and examine the current childcare landscape.

Prior to the pandemic, there were approximately 675,000 childcare providers in this country, predominately small businesses, who were already operating on thin margins. The public health crisis of COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the childcare industry. In the spring of 2020, many childcare providers closed their programs to follow public health guidance, leading to lost revenue for weeks and months at a time. While many providers have now re-opened as states have begun to open up, they are still operating with limited capacity and increased operational costs. Read more about the unique experiences of the providers who are trying to weather this crisis and care for the young children of working parents.