Throughout Vermont, and particularly in rural areas such as Alburgh in Grand Isle County, there are not enough childcare providers to meet the needs of working families. There is also a lack of related and vital family support services including, early learning programs, playgroups, parenting education, and parent support. Affordable child care benefits parents by allowing them to stay in the workforce, directly impacting our economy, and children in high-quality early learning environments have better educational, developmental,and health outcomes than their peers without similar access. The bottom line is, quality childcare is a critical component in helping our most vulnerable children get a good start in life.