Summit Program: From Workforce Challenges to Practical Solutions

November 17, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. | Boise Centre

Join business executives, workforce leaders, and community partners from across Idaho for an engaging, solutions-focused program exploring how child care affects our workforce, our businesses, and our state's economic future.

Through presentations, Idaho-based examples, and conversations about emerging opportunities, the summit will move beyond identifying the challenge to examining what employers and communities can do about it.

Understanding the Economic Challenge

Explore the economic impact of child care challenges on Idaho businesses and working families, including findings from the 2026 Idaho Business & Child Care Survey. Learn what employers are experiencing and why child care is increasingly part of the conversation about workforce participation, recruitment, retention, and business growth.

Idaho Solutions in Action

Hear how Idaho employers and community partners are developing practical approaches to support working families. The program will highlight examples of employer-supported child care, local systems-building, and cooperative models that bring businesses, providers, and community organizations together.

New Opportunities for Employer Investment

Examine strategies that can help employers move from interest to action, including shared-investment approaches and the expanded federal Section 45F employer-provided child care tax credit. The discussion will focus on how businesses of different sizes can explore solutions suited to their workforce and resources.

Introducing Idaho Families Work: Your Next Steps

Discover how Idaho Families Work will help employers understand their child care challenges, explore family-friendly workplace practices, connect with community partners, and identify opportunities to implement solutions.

We'll close with a call to action for Idaho's business community and an invitation to help build a stronger workforce and a more sustainable child care system.

A plated lunch is included.

Additional program details and featured speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.


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Lunch will be provided. Please indicate if you have any dietary restrictions or special needs below. We will do our best to accommodate. 

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