A major problem for a lot of working parents with small children is finding affordable, reliable childcare for their kids while they are at work. That is where the Manitowoc/Two Rivers YMCA steps in.
Julie Grossman, the CEO at the Y called their responsibility to have such child care a fundamental imperative. She put it bluntly, “If we want our community to thrive, if we want our manufacturing companies and our businesses to have employees, those employees have to have an affordable and accessible place to send their kiddos during the day.”
Right now, the Y’s childcare program is full, which Grossman called a double-edged sword. “That’s great of some levels,” she said. “We are full, we are thriving, but I look at those waitlists…and say that represents a family that could be out in the workforce. And that’s what they want. They are on this waitlist because they want to go back to work.”
Grothman told Seehafer News that she has been in contact with business leaders in the area, and they all agree, “We have got to start considering childcare an employee benefit.” As for how they are all going to make that work, that is not so clear at this point. However, as Grossman said, “We have some really creative leaders in the community who are willing to think differently,” and are trying to fix the problem.