PRESENTER: Presenter
Mike Crowley, VP, Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce
Body
SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider approval of a resolution supporting a Chapter 380 Agreement with Early Matters - New Braunfels.
Header
DEPARTMENT: Economic and Community Development
Body
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Policies and Procedures outlines the requirements and process for proposed 380 Agreements. The proposed Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement with Early Matters - New Braunfels will bring benefit and support to the greater New Braunfels community by addressing childcare and early education needs on multiple fronts. More specifically, this project addresses the following 2024-2029 City Strategic Plan Objective:
Economic Mobility:
7. Look for opportunities to incentivize child development centers to increase the supply of high-quality childcare in the community that supports the local workforce.
Project Background
Early childhood education and care has emerged as a local business and economic issue. In February 2024, the Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation began a study to complete a thorough assessment of the New Braunfels childcare ecosystem. The effort found that high childcare costs and limited availability influences families’ decisions to work - increasing turnover and reducing the local labor pool. At the facility level, staffing shortages, financial constraints, and quality improvement barriers limit providers’ abilities to meet demands and improve their services. Together with businesses, schools, government, nonprofits, churches, and individuals seeking care, the effort produced the Greater New Braunfels Early Care and Education (ECE) Final Report.
The ECE Final Report determined that addressing early childhood education and childcare needs is critical to long-term economic and community vitality. The report produced a series of recommendations to begin addressing the issue and to improve childcare quality, affordability and accessibility. One of those primary recommendations is to create a dedicated organization with personnel to implement the recommendations of the ECE Final Report.
The proposed Early Matters New Braunfels initiative will work to address early childhood education and childcare needs throughout the New Braunfels community in accordance with the recommendations in the Final Report.
ISSUE:
The City’s Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Policies and Procedures requires supporting resolutions for all proposed Chapter 380 Agreements.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A - There is no fiscal impact to approving this resolution of support.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution supporting the Chapter 380 Agreement with Early Matters - New Braunfels as it coincides with the overall intent of the 380 Policy.