www.earlychildhoodfocus.org/artman2/publish/OH/Ohio_Uni -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 9/11/2007
Last Visited: 10/4/2007
"As the largest employer in the area, it's a very, very positive step," said Larry Payne, member services coordinator for the chamber.
"The quality of child care is hard to come by," Payne said."OU gets a lot of comments about it from their newly hired employees.That is the reason they did that survey."
The survey conducted by the university task force, of which 94 percent of the respondents were OU faculty, staff, faculty or students, reported that 83 percent of those who responded believed that the lack of child care has interfered with their school or work.
Payne reported that child care is a major concern among its members, both large and small."For any company, like Diagnostic Hybrids, it's a big issue for them because it affects worker productivity," he said.
Payne noted that the current lack of quality child care in the community indicates a potential for new businesses that specialize in such services.At least one new child care center is soon to open on West Union Street, Payne said."A lot of related businesses for child care could be created," he said.
With the development during the past few years of new businesses along East State Street, Payne said, the chamber estimates that more than 800 new jobs have been created."You know a lot of those new employees need child care," he said.