Duke Energy Ohio Executive Vice President, Customer Experience, Harry K. Sideris | Duke Energy Ohio
Duke Energy Ohio Executive Vice President, Customer Experience, Harry K. Sideris | Duke Energy Ohio
Duke Energy Foundation and the Indiana Economic Development Association Foundation (IEDAF) are addressing the workforce issue of affordable child care in Indiana by awarding $150,000 in grants to four organizations. The funds aim to improve access to child care in various counties across the state.
Erin Schneider, managing director of economic development at Duke Energy, emphasized the importance of these grants: “We know that Indiana’s child care challenges are complex, and we hope these grants will help develop the solutions needed to support working parents and local economies.” Schneider expressed optimism about how this initiative could remove barriers for parents and caretakers in the workforce.
The impact of inadequate child care on Indiana's economy was highlighted by a report from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce released in September 2024. The study found an estimated annual loss of $4.22 billion for the state's economy due to child care issues, including a $1.17 billion annual tax revenue shortfall. Only 61% of children needing care can be served through existing facilities.
Matt Kavgian, executive director of IEDAF, stated: "Access to quality, affordable child care is not just a family issue – it’s an economic imperative." He underscored that investing in child care solutions strengthens both families and the broader economy.
The grant recipients include:
1. Fulton Economic Development Corporation (EDC), awarded $40,000 to assess and enhance child care services in Fulton County through community collaboration.
2. Greencastle Putnam County Development Center (GPCDC), receiving $40,000 to explore employer-supported models and other innovative solutions for improving local child care capacity.
3. Hendricks College Network, which plans to use its $30,000 grant for expanding access to high-quality care and advocating for policies supporting providers.
4. Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), allocated $40,000 for building expansion assessments aimed at increasing capacity at three child care centers.
Duke Energy Foundation annually provides over $30 million in philanthropic support within communities where Duke Energy operates. Meanwhile, IEDAF supports future economic development leaders through scholarships and other resources.
Contact information is provided for further inquiries:
- Duke Energy: Tina Noel at tina.noel@duke-energy.com
- IEDA: Matt Kavgian at matt@ieda.org
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