Finding a spot for your future employee’s child is proving to be a crucial piece to filling the spot in your office. According to a 2024 UW-Madison study, long-term demographic shifts in the state have led to the highest labor shortage rate in the last 20 years. While area leaders cannot do much about people getting older and younger couples not having as many children as they once did, they are looking at how they can lift some barriers preventing people from entering the workforce, such as childcare. The study highlighted research from the Center of American Progress, which showed that two million parents in 2016 were forced to make significant decisions about employment and relocation based on the cost and availability of childcare. Molly Gary from the United Way of Door County says investing in childcare improves the community.

Childcare advocates received good news this week when more than $330 million in the state budget was directed to programs statewide. Closer to home, you can support Sturgeon Bay’s childcare center, Doorway to Learning, by simply bringing in your new or gently used shoes to either the Egg Harbor Road or Gordon Road locations now until August 23rd. Doorway to Learning will earn funds from the shoes collected before they are donated to people in developing nations.