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Cumberland County Commission for Women Hosts Child Care Town Hall on May 29

Business leader forum to focus on solutions to PA’s child care crisis

LEMOYNE, PA (April 10, 2025) – In response to the overwhelming interest in the Cumberland County Commission for Women’s (CCCW) Child Care Town Hall last year, the CCCW will hold a Child Care Town Hall Part 2 with a business-led forum to address the impact of Pennsylvania’s lack of affordable, accessible child care on businesses and working families.

The Child Care Town Hall will be held on May 29 at the Members 1st Federal Credit Union George Nahodil Community Room, 5000 Marketplace Way, Enola, from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and is free and open to the public. To register, visit https://form.jotform.com/250584253551153.

A PA Chamber and Early Learning Investment Commission survey found that 81 percent of employers had moderate or significant recruitment and retention issues due to a lack of affordable and available child care. There is an estimated annual economic impact of $2.4 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and tax revenue due to gaps in Pennsylvania’s child care system, according to ReadyNation.

Studies have shown that investments in high-quality child care are a win-win for companies and working families alike. “Parents need more options for how to best balance home, work, and children. At CCCW, we’ve learned that access to reliable, affordable child care is necessary to build a successful workforce and strong economy. Whether you’re a business owner, working parent, CEO, job seeker, or elected official, we invite you to join us as we explore opportunities to support our working families and grow PA businesses,” says Brianda Friestat, president, Cumberland County Commission for Women.

The Child Care Town Hall panelists include:

• Pamela Hill, CEO and Owner, Signature Staffing
• Ryan Unger, President & CEO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber/CREDC
• Bob Carl Jr., President & CEO, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
• Michael Wilson, President & CEO, Members 1st Federal Credit Union
• Katie Caples, Every Child Has Opportunities (ECHO) Director, Community Connections for Children

“As the owner of a staffing firm, I see this crisis unfold every day. We place hundreds of excellent job seekers in positions, but in at least 60% of our interviews, access to affordable child care is a critical barrier to job acceptance. This issue is keeping our economy from achieving a competitive advantage,” says Pamela Hill, owner & CEO, Signature Staffing, Lemoyne, PA. “And it’s not just a women’s issue, it’s a talent and recruitment issue. Our goal for this forum is to develop innovative solutions to support our working parents, employees, and businesses.”

Ryan Unger, President & CEO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber/CREDC, says, “The lack of affordable child care options continues to be a barrier for our region’s workforce with statewide data showing that child care challenges cost businesses over $1 billion annually. We need to urgently fix this situation.”

While child care costs have grown, Pennsylvania’s child care workforce has at the same time dropped by 40% from 2019-23. A reason for this is that child care workforce earnings do not meet the cost-of-living standards in any of the state’s 67 counties, with the average wage earned being $15.15 per hour.

A fierce advocate for state investments in child care teacher recruitment, Bob Carl Jr., President & CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber, says, “The child care crisis has reached critical levels and is affecting employers and working families alike. It’s a major economic issue that affects every business, family, and community. We look forward to bringing stakeholders together to provide workable solutions for businesses.”

“Removing barriers to affordable, accessible child care is an investment in our associates,” says Mike Wilson, President & CEO of Members 1st Federal Credit Union. “We’ve made this a priority and believe it’s a workforce culture strategy, as well as a talent acquisition strategy.”

“All families, regardless of their income, are impacted by the lack of public investments in child care. The child care funding model is a flawed system. Families can’t pay the true cost of care and providers offset the rates they do charge with low wages. Low-income families are at an increased disadvantage, as the high cost of child care often means they take a step back in the workforce or remove themselves entirely. We know access to high-quality early childhood education helps children succeed in school and in life,” says Katie Caples, ECHO Director at Community Connections for Children. “All hardworking parents deserve access to affordable child care options so they can build their careers and achieve financial security. By providing high quality, affordable child care to all, we’ll build a stronger Pennsylvania.”

ABOUT SIGNATURE STAFFING
Signature Staffing is a central Pennsylvania-based employment firm committed to finding and placing high quality, expertly vetted employees. Our personalized hiring philosophy delivers the right candidate for the right job in PA businesses and organizations. As a WBENC Certified, premier woman-owned agency and a recognized SDB in Pennsylvania, we’re proudly celebrating 27 years of staffing Pennsylvania’s dedicated, passionate, and loyal workforce at many of the Commonwealth’s most respected companies in the IT, manufacturing, medical, warehouse, legal, banking, and accounting industries. Learn more about Signature Staffing, call us at 717.737.8777, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

ABOUT CUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMISSION ON WOMEN

The Cumberland County Commission on Women (CCCW) seeks to increase opportunities for Cumberland County women and girls by identifying and promoting awareness of pertinent issues. The CCCW is a volunteer organization that enables women to develop their skills and continue their education; builds key partnerships with key organizations to promote women’s issues; provides professional development training and networking opportunities for women; and supports municipal, county, and government organizations. Learn more about CCCW at https://www.cumberlandcountypa.gov/57/Commission-for-Women.

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