Together with others, I helped create Valley Early Education Reimagined (VEER), a partnership between Valley Interfaith Action, a broad-based citizens organization here in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg, along with area employers and the public sector. VEER is an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. But, we need this tax credit in order to expand the pool of employers who can help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. Our model increases bricks-and-mortar for a third of the average cost through low-cost retrofits at sites we can lease at-cost. VEER offers increased compensation and career advancement pathways for teachers and centralizes back-end operations so center directors can focus on the development of their staff, families, and students. We can do this and lower costs for families and be financially sustainable by bringing in private sector funding. VEER Employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs and for those employers, VEER is a workforce development tool. This tax credit would be a powerful tool in our work to create high-quality, financially sustainable childcare centers and transform early education and childcare in Virginia.

My name is Dorothy Kitchen. I am reaching out to show my full support of this bill. As a mother and former elementary school teacher, I know the impossible situation families are put in. My husband and I were fortunate that we were able to make the choice for me to stop working as a teacher and stay home with my daughter. However I know many families, teachers and other professionals that do not have that option. This bill would give the choice back to the parents. It would give options to parents who want to remain in the workplace. And it would give our children the affordable and quality childcare they deserve. Thank you, Dorothy Kitchen

Affordable childcare is essential infrastructure. When families can access it, parents stay in the workforce, businesses retain talent, and local economies grow. An employer childcare tax credit incentivizes practical, private-sector solutions that reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and strengthen families without expanding government bureaucracy

Affordable childcare is essential infrastructure. When families can access it, parents stay in the workforce, businesses retain talent, and local economies grow. An employer childcare tax credit incentivizes practical, private-sector solutions that reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and strengthen families without expanding government bureaucracy

I am reaching out to give written support of this bill.

My name is David Rose and I am the priest at Emmanuel Episcopal church in Harrisonburg. My congregation has been a part of Valley Interfaith Action (VIA), since its beginning, and as a priest, I interact with parishioners and community members daily for whom childcare is a major issue. In the Valley, we see childcare as a workforce development tool. We created Valley Early Education Reimagined, a partnership between VIA, a broad-based citizens organization, area employers and the public sector. VEER is an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. But, we need this tax credit in order to expand the pool of employers who can help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. In the Shenandoah Valley, civic leaders from churches and immigrant associations got together with business leaders to create VEER as an innovative model for early education and childcare that could be a blueprint across the state. Our model increases bricks-and-mortar for a third of the average cost through low-cost retrofits at sites we can lease at-cost. VEER offers increased compensation and career advancement pathways for teachers and centralizes back-end operations so center directors can focus on the development of their staff, families, and students. We can do this and lower costs for families and be financially sustainable by bringing in private sector funding. VEER Employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs For employers, VEER is a workforce development tool. We are on the ground everyday providing desperately needed childcare for families and keeping educators in the classroom doing what they love. This tax credit would be a powerful tool in our collaborative work to create high-quality, financially sustainable childcare centers and transform early education and childcare in Virginia. I urge you to recommend adopting HB1412.

Dear Delegate Wilt, I am writing to ask for your support of HB1412. My spouse and I are a retired Virginia couple with three adult children. Two of our children are former teachers who would like to return to work, but affordable childcare remains a major barrier. Programs like VEER are critical in helping working families access reliable childcare and in supporting a stronger workforce. When parents cannot find or afford childcare, Virginia loses skilled workers — including experienced educators we urgently need back in our schools. HB1412 is an important step toward expanding access to childcare and strengthening programs such as VEER that help families reenter the workforce. We respectfully urge you to support HB1412. Thank you for your time and service. Sincerely, Jeanette Hershey Augusta County ,Virginia

Please consider this bill and move it forward!

As a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Harrisonburg, Va, I have been involved in the work of Valley Interfaith Action (VIA) since its inception. This organization listens to our community, assesses its needs, and acts to improve the lives of all community members. The issue of accessable and affordable childcare is at the top of community concerns. VIA created VEER, an innovative model for early education and childcare that could be a blueprint across the state. VEER Employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs . In order to incentivize these employers, this tax credit it needed! It would be a powerful tool in our work to create high-quality, financially sustainable childcare centers and transform early education and childcare in Virginia.

My name is Olivia Burkholder. I am a former educator, and now parent of three children, 2 of whom are not school . I am writing because we need more affordable options for childcare in Virginia. The health of our community and economy depends on excellent education workers and healthcare workers (of course, all other sectors, too) being able to afford to work and care for their children. After our first child was born, I went back to work for six months after my maternity leave and then my husband and I were fortunate enough that I was able to stay home. For our middle class family, the finances of me working and paying for childcare barely break even. I know so many families where their childcare costs are up to 40% of their income. The cost of childcare is keeping qualified, skilled workers out of the work force, especially educators where pay is not what it should be. It's all connected: Our students need teachers to be able to afford to stay at work in the classroom. Our children need quality and affordable care while we are at work. Respectfully, Olivia Burkholder

Greetings, my name is Rev. Jennifer K. Scarr of Rockingham County. I helped create Valley Early Education Reimagined, a partnership between Valley Interfaith Action, a broad-based citizens organization, area employers and the public sector. VEER is an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. But, we need this tax credit in order to expand the pool of employers who can help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. Like many communities in Virginia, most of our residents work in healthcare or public education. These employers are not eligible for the existing federal employer child care tax credits. Even in our largest private sector industry, agriculture, one third of poultry plants are ineligible because they do not have a tax liability. This credit would incentivize our area’s largest employers, like Sentara hospital, to help shoulder childcare costs for Virginia families. For employers who are eligible for the federal employer tax credit 45F, this matching tax credit enables employers to cover the true cost of care without increasing costs for families. Overall, this would bring in more federal dollars to Virginia and ease the burden on existing state programs like Subsidy. Bringing in private sector funding is a key pathway to transform childcare in Virginia. HB 1412 in particular would have a significant impact because it casts the widest net, enabling more employers and more diverse types of employers to help shoulder the cost of childcare. Fixing the crisis of childcare requires increasing access to high-quality, affordable care for families, increasing teacher recruitment and retention, and increasing the financial stability of childcare centers. Tax credit HB1412 helps do all three. Thank you.

Fixing the crisis of childcare requires increasing access to high-quality, affordable care for families, increasing teacher recruitment and retention, and increasing the financial stability of childcare centers. Tax credit HB1412 helps do all three. VIA created Valley Early Education Reimagined, a private-public partnership between civic sector organizations, area employers and the public sector, as an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. But, we at VIA need this tax credit in order to expand the pool of employers who help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. Like many communities in Virginia, most of our residents work in healthcare or public education. These employers are not eligible for the existing federal employer child care tax credit 45F. Even in our largest private sector industry, agriculture, ⅓ of poultry plants are ineligible because they do not have a tax liability. HB1412 would incentivize our area’s largest employers, like Sentara Hospital, to help shoulder childcare costs for Virginia families. For employers who are eligible for the federal 45F, HB1412 enables employers to cover the true cost of care without increasing costs for families. Overall, this would bring in more federal dollars to Virginia and ease the burden on existing state programs like Subsidy. Increasing private sector investment is a key pathway to transforming the childcare crisis in Virginia. HB 1412 in particular would have a significant impact because it casts the widest net, enabling more employers and more diverse types of employers to help shoulder the cost of childcare.

Fixing the crisis of childcare requires increasing access to high-quality, affordable care for families, increasing teacher recruitment and retention, and increasing the financial stability of childcare centers. Tax credit HB1412 helps do all three. We created Valley Early Education Reimagined, a private-public partnership between civic sector organizations, area employers and the public sector, as an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. But, we need this tax credit in order to expand the pool of employers who help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. Like many communities in Virginia, most of our residents work in healthcare or public education. These employers are not eligible for the existing federal employer child care tax credit 45F. Even in our largest private sector industry, agriculture, ⅓ of poultry plants are ineligible because they do not have a tax liability. HB1412 would incentivize our area’s largest employers, like Sentara hospital, to help shoulder childcare costs for Virginia families. For employers who are eligible for the federal 45F, HB1412 enables employers to cover the true cost of care without increasing costs for families. Overall, this would bring in more federal dollars to Virginia and ease the burden on existing state programs like Subsidy. Increasing private sector investment is a key pathway to transforming the childcare crisis in Virginia. HB 1412 in particular would have a significant impact because it casts the widest net, enabling more employers and more diverse types of employers to help shoulder the cost of childcare.

In the Shenandoah Valley, civic leaders from churches and immigrant associations got together with business leaders to create VEER as an innovative model for early education and childcare that could be a blueprint across the state. Our model increases bricks-and-mortar for a third of the average cost through low-cost retrofits at sites we can lease at-cost. VEER offers increased compensation and career advancement pathways for teachers and centralizes back-end operations so center directors can focus on the development of their staff, families, and students. We can do this and lower costs for families and be financially sustainable by bringing in private sector funding. VEER Employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs For employers, VEER is a workforce development tool. It’s a win-win. We are on the ground everyday providing desperately needed childcare for families and keeping educators in the classroom doing what they love. This tax credit would be a powerful tool in our work to create high-quality, financially sustainable childcare centers and transform early education and childcare in Virginia.

In the Shenandoah Valley, civic leaders from churches and immigrant associations got together with business leaders to create VEER as an innovative model for early education and childcare that could be a blueprint across the state. Our model increases bricks-and-mortar for a third of the average cost through low-cost retrofits at sites we can lease at-cost. VEER offers increased compensation and career advancement pathways for teachers and centralizes back-end operations so center directors can focus on the development of their staff, families, and students. We can do this and lower costs for families and be financially sustainable by bringing in private sector funding. VEER Employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs For employers, VEER is a workforce development tool. It’s a win-win. We are on the ground everyday providing desperately needed childcare for families and keeping educators in the classroom doing what they love. This tax credit would be a powerful tool in our work to create high-quality, financially sustainable childcare centers and transform early education and childcare in Virginia.

My name is Laura Herr. I am a career educator, and now parent of two young children. I am writing because in the state of VA, our childcare options are limited and too expensive. The health of our community and economy depends on excellent education workers and healthcare workers (of course, all other sectors, too) being able to afford to work and care for their children. My husband and I were fortunate that when we had our children, we were able to make the choice for me to stop working as a teacher and stay home with the kids while they were babies. However, my school literally needed me back and so I chose to go back before my children were in school full-time. For our middle class family, the finances of this barely break even. I know so many families where their childcare costs are up to 40% of their income. The cost of childcare is keeping qualified, skilled workers out of classrooms and hospitals. It's all connected: Our students need teachers to be able to afford to stay at work in the classroom. Our children need quality and affordable care while we are at work. My children's teachers need to afford to be at school teaching them. I was able to find care for my sons thanks to a new preschool opening in the Shenandoah Valley, called VEER (Valley Early Education Reimagined). They have created an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. In this model employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to pay teachers a living wage, and keep costs low for families. I am pleading with you to turn your attention to this issue. HB 405 and HB 1412 contain provision for enabling more employers and more diverse types of employers to help shoulder the cost of childcare. Respectfully, Laura Herr

My name is Erin Beeker. I helped support the creation of Valley Early Education Reimagined (VEER), a partnership between Valley Interfaith Action, a broad-based citizens organization, area employers and the public sector. VEER is an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Fixing the crisis of childcare requires increasing access to high-quality, affordable care for families, increasing teacher recruitment and retention, and increasing the financial stability of childcare centers. Tax credit HB1412 helps do all three. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. But, this tax credit is needed in order to expand the pool of employers who can help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. Like many communities in Virginia, most of our residents work in healthcare or public education. These employers are not eligible for the existing federal employer child care tax credits. Even in the largest private sector industry in our area, agriculture, ⅓ of poultry plants are ineligible because they do not have a tax liability. This credit would incentivize our area’s largest employers, like Sentara hospital, to help shoulder childcare costs for Virginia families. For employers who are eligible for the federal employer tax credit 45F, this matching tax credit enables employers to cover the true cost of care without increasing costs for families. Overall, this would bring in more federal dollars to Virginia and ease the burden on existing state programs like Subsidy. Bringing in private sector funding is a key pathway to transform childcare in Virginia. HB 1412 in particular would have a significant impact because it casts the widest net, enabling more employers and more diverse types of employers to help shoulder the cost of childcare. Please consider the importance of that HB 1412 has to our entire community. The passage of this could have an amazing impact and improve family lives and the economy. Thank you, Erin Beeker

Public Comment on HR403 and HR1412: Employer Childcare Tax Credit I have been engaged in working with local leaders and state offices for quality child care for young Virginians since I was a young Presbyterian pastor in Appalachia and Big Stone Gap in the mid-1970s. I have seen the results of such programs in the lives – not only of the children – but of their families and the communities in which they live when parents are free to engage in work and community life without being constantly preoccupied in finding ways to care for their young children in the midst of their very busy lives. Now, 50 years later, I am still engaged with this process as a member of VIA (Valley Interfaith Action). Together with other faith-based and community engaged persons across the Shenandoah Valley, we have established VEER (Valley Early Education Reimagined) to address both challenges to quality child care in Virginia: 1) high cost to parents and 2) low pay to providers. These twin challenges keep parents from fulling engaging in work because often the fees for childcare are greater than their net income from employment AND despite high costs for childcare the intensive staff-to-child ratios keep wages for childcare teachers too low to sustain a career. House Bill 1412 (tax credit) will greatly assist in meeting these two challenges. It provides a mechanism similar to the federal 45F tax credit for those who work in industries not covered by 45F – such as health care and public education. It also provides a way for those who work in the critical agricultural industry in the Valley to assure themselves of a steady, quality workforce freed from constant preoccupation with the care of their precious children. I urge your support of HB1412 as a way to support local families, local industries, and to access additional federal dollars to Virginia while, at the same time, reducing the burden on existing state programs like Subsidy. Thank you for your consideration of our request. Rev. Dr. William T. Reinhold 319 N 1st ST, Apt 110 Bridgewater, VA 22812

My name is Lori Friesen, a pastor and strategy team member of Valley Interfaith Action. I helped create Valley Early Education Reimagined, a partnership between Valley Interfaith Action, a broad-based citizens organization, area employers and the public sector. VEER is an innovative model to launch and operate high-quality, state-licensed childcare centers that are financially sustainable. Fixing the crisis of childcare requires increasing access to high-quality, affordable care for families, increasing teacher recruitment and retention, and increasing the financial stability of childcare centers. Tax credit HB1412 helps do all three. Through VEER, employers help pay for their workers’ childcare costs. By bringing in private sector funding, VEER is able to increase compensation for teachers and lower costs for families. It’s a win-win. There are families in our community who are having to spend up to 40% of their income on childcare. This is unacceptable and unsustainable. We need this tax credit in order to expand the pool of employers who can help fund childcare costs and increase overall private sector investment in childcare solutions. For employers who are eligible for the federal employer tax credit 45F, this matching tax credit enables employers to help cover the true cost of care without increasing costs for families. Overall, this would bring in more federal dollars to Virginia and ease the burden on existing state programs like Subsidy. We are on the ground everyday providing desperately needed childcare for families and keeping educators in the classroom doing what they love. This tax credit would be a powerful tool in our work to create high-quality, financially sustainable childcare centers and transform early education and childcare in Virginia. Without bills like HB1412 families in our community will drown under the cost of childcare, teachers will leave jobs they love because their compensation is so poor and children will be denied access to quality and affordable childcare that will help to prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow. We can do better. Let's do better.

support of HB1412

Please support a refundable child care tax credit for employers. This tax credit will help leveridge existing federal tax credits to fund the true cost of childcare across the state and help families access the high-quality care they need for their children. Since there are many employers that do not quality for current federal tax credits, this bill would help more diverse types of employers to take part and help families. In the Shenandoah Valley, we are concerned about the need for adequate, affordable and quality child care. I have worked in the field of child care and know the importance of meeting the needs of working parents, paying and retainimg staff and positive experiences for children while they are in care. Thank you for your consideration of this bill.