The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry is hosting its annual Fall Forums, looking at how Nebraska is faring with the pandemic and ongoing recovery efforts.
State Chamber Forums: Snapshot of Nebraska’s Economy
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Category: COVID-19
A provider’s perspective on operating a child care business during the pandemic
Mariah Stowe, a Lincoln child care provider, testified on LR390 before the Legislature's Appropriations Committee on the tough decisions facing child care professionals during COVID-19.
We need Nebraska to be competitive, which means our workforce needs access to quality child care
At a recent Appropriations Committee hearing, TMCO CEO Diane Temme Stinton testified on LR390, an interim study assessing the fiscal impact of COVID-19 on Nebraska's early childhood workforce and early care and education system.
Senators learn of COVID-19 impacts on state’s early childhood workforce and education system
FFN's Elizabeth Everett tesified at a legislative hearing for LR390 this week, along with experts from the Nebraska Early Childhood Workforce Commission, the state’s early childhood system, business and child care.
Early childhood programs’ success, community vitality focus of conference
Nearly 700 civic, business and education leaders, from 99 Nebraska communities, 20 states and Washington, D.C., came together for the third annual Thriving Children, Families, and Communities conference Monday to focus on quality early childhood programs, which became even more critical with the pandemic and their connection to community economic development and vitality.
FFN’s Policy Leadership Academy plans to recruit next class in spring 2021
First Five Nebraska, in partnership with Communities for Kids, launched the Nebraska Early Childhood Policy Leadership Academy in 2019 to engage policymakers on early childhood policy at the state level and in their communities.
Lack of child care costs Nebraskans $745 million per year, report finds
A new study by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Bureau of Business Research for First Five Nebraska finds that gaps in child care availability negatively impact family income, employer profitability and state revenue.
School readiness tax credit program revised to benefit more child care providers
Governor Ricketts signs LB266 into law, giving self-employed child care providers and those classified as S-Corps access to the school readiness tax credit, as intended in the original legislation.
FFN to work with senators on two Interim Studies
FFN will work with Senator DeBoer and Senator Stinner on interim studies this year, looking at accessing services through the Early Development Network and the fiscal and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nebraska's early childhood workforce and early childhood care and education system.
Statewide Campaign Highlights Relationship Between Quality Child Care and Economic Development
First Five Nebraska launched My Nebraska Story this week, a statewide campaign inviting business leaders, economic developers and others to become involved in strengthening the availability of quality child care in their communities.
Education Stabilization Funds in the CARES Act: What it means for Nebraska
The CARES Act, signed into law last month, recognizes the urgency of our nation’s educational needs and earmarks $30.75 billion of Education Stabilization Funds for relief to states to help their education systems recover. Here's what that means for Nebraska.
Community Assistance Funding for COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, communities across Nebraska are responding on the local level through creation of community-driven programs for families, businesses and nonprofits who are impacted. Some of these programs respond directly to the needs of early childhood professionals, while others support the economic viability of local businesses. As a local provider, we encourage you to reach out to your local chambers of commerce or economic development corporations to see how you can be included in local business programs.