Adirondack coalition launched to address child care shortages in five counties
Business leaders and child care advocates launched a regional coalition Oct. 29 in Lake George to strengthen child care in five Adirondack counties.
By Jessica Hale, ClickNNY North Country Desk
Business leaders and child care advocates launched the Regional Business Coalition for Child Care on Oct. 29 at Fort William Henry in Lake George. The coalition will work to strengthen child care in Warren, Franklin, Clinton, Essex and Hamilton counties and improve access to affordable, high-quality care in rural Adirondack communities.
The Warren County Economic Development Corporation worked with the Adirondack Community Foundation and the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance to build the coalition. Organizers say its work will include supporting existing providers, collecting workforce data and advocating for changes to funding formulas.
Child care advocates say about 80% of the region is classified as a child care desert, with about six children competing for each available child care slot. The shortage affects families and employers across the five-county area, including Franklin and Clinton counties in the broader North Country.
About 75 business leaders, community partners, child care advocates and other regional stakeholders attended the launch, according to a Warren County EDC recap. Organizers said businesses are being asked to contribute their voices, perspectives and connections rather than money.
The Adirondack Community Foundation launched Stand Up for Child Care Adirondacks in 2020 as a cross-sector advocacy group. A 2019 North Country Business and Education Forum organized by the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country drew about 90 people, including more than 30 who expressed interest in joining a business leaders' advocacy group.
Businesses and community members can contact the Warren County EDC at 518-761-6007 or info@edcwc.org for more information. The Southern Adirondack Child Care Network's Early Childhood Conference is scheduled for Nov. 13-14 at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.
ClickNNY Election 2026 · Showdown in Jefferson County
Ousted by his own party, still on the ballot: inside Jefferson County’s three-way fight for power
Knocked off his own party's line in June, an incumbent refuses to quit. A 24-year legislator faces his first opponent in years. And a challenger vows to break up a board with no Democrats. Here's who is fighting for your vote on Nov. 3.
ClickNNY Guide · Community
Protecting hibernating bats in St. Lawrence County: what to know
New York residents, including those in St. Lawrence County, can help protect hibernating bats by avoiding restricted caves and mines, limiting tree removal during the winter, and using trained wildlife professionals for bats in homes.
ClickNNY Special Report · Technology
The Good. The Bad. The Rogue.
AI agents are here, working for us, being used against us and, it appears, sometimes doing what nobody told them to. What it means for North Country jobs, money and privacy, and what is still unanswered.