Mason County Childcare Coalition Kicks Off Strategic Planning
Mason County, WA – October 17, 2025 – The Mason County Childcare Coalition held its official kickoff meeting to launch a countywide strategic planning effort focused on expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare. Convened by the Mason County Economic Development Council (EDC) in partnership with Mason Matters, the coalition brought together childcare providers, employers, educators, health professionals, and community partners to align on priorities and identify solutions that strengthen the local childcare system.
During the meeting, EDC Executive Director Kevin Shutty opened by emphasizing that childcare is not just a family concern—it’s essential economic infrastructure. He noted that when families have access to care, employers can recruit and retain workers, and the entire local economy benefits. Julie Knott, Executive Director of Mason Matters, introduced her organization’s role in the project, explaining that this collaborative effort will help address gaps in availability, affordability, and workforce support.
Throughout the introductions and discussions, several common themes emerged. Space limitations remain one of the biggest barriers to expanding childcare services, as many providers operate at capacity or share facilities with other programs. Cost is another major concern, affecting both families and providers. Families often struggle to afford childcare while providers face high operating costs and low wages that make it difficult to sustain or expand services. Participants also discussed the lack of trained providers for children with special or behavioral needs, as well as the absence of childcare options for infants and toddlers under twelve months. Non-traditional hours were repeatedly mentioned as a critical need, especially for families working in healthcare, law enforcement, and other 24-hour industries.
The conversation underscored how directly childcare access influences workforce participation, particularly for mothers. Several employers noted that the inability to find reliable childcare affects recruitment, retention, and overall employee well-being. In many cases, parents—most often mothers—are forced to step away from the workforce or reduce hours due to the cost or unavailability of care. As one participant put it, childcare is the gatekeeper to full workforce participation.
Another recurring topic was the need for sustainable funding and public awareness. Attendees agreed that childcare should be recognized as a public good that benefits the entire community, not just parents. Expanding subsidies, coordinating funding sources, and educating the public about the broader economic impact of childcare were identified as essential steps forward. Collaboration among employers, schools, policymakers, and community organizations was also highlighted as key to developing effective, lasting solutions.
To frame the discussion, EDC Business Development Manager Karin Leaf presented data showing that Mason County has approximately 22,000 working adults, with roughly 75 percent of local jobs requiring a two-year certificate or less. Labor force participation is around 50 percent overall but rises to 73 percent among adults aged 25 to 54—the population most impacted by childcare access. While employment in childcare-related fields is slowly increasing, wages remain low and turnover high, contributing to persistent shortages. These trends make clear that investing in the childcare workforce is vital to the county’s long-term economic health.
As part of the strategic planning process, the coalition will conduct community outreach and develop a needs assessment to guide future action. Community surveys will also be conducted in English and Spanish to ensure that a broad range of voices are represented. The project team will lead additional provider focus groups and listening sessions in the coming months.
The kickoff meeting concluded with a word cloud activity, led by EDC External Affairs Manager Tiana Dunbar, to gather keywords that will inform the coalition’s vision statement. Common terms included “affordable,” “accessible,” “quality,” “community,” and “support,” reflecting the shared commitment to strengthening childcare access across Mason County. The results of that exercise will help shape the coalition’s guiding vision and goals.
By the end of the session, it was clear that Mason County’s childcare challenges are complex but solvable through collaboration and coordinated effort. The passion and experience in the room represented every corner of the community—from educators and employers to healthcare professionals and policymakers—all united around one simple truth: when childcare works, Mason County works.
