Across the nation, the health of local economies depends largely on the stability and growth of its workforce. Community-based organizations and businesses that grapple with retention are faced with the direct costs associated with recruiting new employees, as well as the cost of lost productivity due to turnover. Among those hardest hit by turnover are child care providers, who cannot operate at full capacity when they are short on staff. In addition, empty classrooms directly impact the local economy: without access to child care, working parents are unable to maintain employment. Here, we explore the link between child care and the local economy.