Category Archives: Early Childhood

Advocacy

March 18, 2013 By in Campaign, Early Childhood Leave a comment

ImageLast Tuesday was a busy day, and a great one.

I started off at the State Capitol for Early Childhood Iowa day at the Capitol.  Early Childhood Iowa advocates for the help, well being, and education of children Pre Kindergarten in the state of Iowa.  The State allocates funds each year to promote programs that make a positive impact on the lives of children who need it most in rural and urban areas.  Programs must provide evidence of results.  I serve on the Polk County Board that allocates funds at a local level.

Rob Grunewald, an Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, spoke on behlaf of the economic benefits of investing in early childhood programs.  For every dollar invested, you can expect 16 dollars returned in benefit.  You heard that right.  It takes a long time to realize the benefits if higher income and fewer incarcerations, but the annualized return is between 8-10%.  More information and presentations can be found here.

http://www.minneapolisfed.org/publications_papers/studies/earlychild/index.cfm

Over lunch, Rob Grunewald (Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis), Elliott Smith (Executive Director, Iowa Business Council), Mary Bontrager (Executive Vice President, Workforce Development/Education, Greater Des Moines Partnership), Brook Rosenberg (Owner/VP at Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Inc.), Natali Justiniano Pahl  (Strategic Development Director, Human Resources, The Principal Group), Dave Arens (Vice President, Wealth Advisor, Wells Fargo), Matt Knoll (Assistant Vice President, Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors), Judy McCoy Davis (JMD Consulting), Barb Bremner (Executive Director, Polk County Early Childhood Iowa), and myself had a great discussion about community engagement and how to further enhance the wonderful support from our business community and how to get more support from the Branstad administration for these investment.

In the afternoon, I listened to Rob, again, speak to the Senate Committee on Economic Development.  Rob makes a very simple case for ensuring kids are healthy and ready to learn.  It was a pleasure to see support from both parties on the issue.