Bend Chamber CEO, Katy Brooks, and others joined Governor Kate Brown for a ceremonial signing of the historic HB 4005 childcare bill at Bloom Children’s Center in Bend on March 15. HB 4005 makes providing childcare more economically feasible for family childcare providers.

The bill is part of a $100 million childcare package that was recently signed into law.  It addresses an unfair disparity in payments to providers servicing low-income families who receive Employment Related Day Care subsidies. It will increase those payments to 90% of market-rate by July 2022. The current payment is 75% of the market rate.

When put in conjunction with the approval by the Deschutes County Commission of nearly $7 million in funding for childcare, early learning programs and workforce development, Bend and surrounding municipalities are poised for success in combating the lack of affordable childcare.

The Governor was joined by childcare providers, early learning advocates, Early Learning Division Director Alyssa Chatterjee, Senator Tim Knopp, and Representative Jason Kropf. The Governor also thanked the Children’s Institute, Family Forward Oregon, Oregon AFSCME, Imagine Black, Oregon Association for Education of Young Children, PCUN, Seeding Justice, Unite Oregon, and Euvalcree for their advocacy helping to pass HB 4005.

“We know how critical childcare continues to be in Oregon. The pandemic has made clear that without childcare, no other work can happen,” said Governor Brown. “We have seen the devastating impact on employment when parents can’t find childcare, particularly for mothers and people of color.”

 

“We have heard consistently from employers, childcare providers, and working families alike that access to childcare is the biggest barrier to Oregonians returning to the workforce and pursuing economic opportunities. Put simply, for working parents, childcare is critical infrastructure.”

     

“These dollars will help expand childcare access to serve more families, and provide professional learning opportunities and higher compensation to develop and retain our amazing and talented providers.”