Op-Ed

For a Better Economic Future, We Must Start Early

It is often said that economic development is a long-term commitment. It takes time to build infrastructure, market opportunities and secure financing. It takes time for incentives and investments to pay off in the long run – to build a momentum that will lead to dozens of companies wanting to come here and stay here. That is the goal.

We believe it can be done because we believe in where we live. We know that our area has vast, untapped potential in our human and natural resources.

And we are ready to be patient. The experts tell us it will take another 10 years to get started and possibly 20 to reap the benefits of these efforts.

Today’s preschoolers will be ready for this economic success in another 20 years. The jobs that we want so much to create will be for them.

So it makes sense that in addition to excavating land, running utilities, and constructing shell buildings that we also make investments in the workforce - investments that will be key to successfully making Cabell and Wayne counties desirable to companies.

We want a first class workforce for this new economy. We want workers who are intelligent, have good work ethics and strong character. We want citizens who are committed to giving back to their community.

Experts say that the way we develop adults like this is to start as early as possible, when a child’s brain is growing the fastest and there are rich opportunities to shape the way they think, act and feel. As we have learned more and more about how character develops, it is increasingly clear that our society is missing out on an incredible chance to grow our future citizens. While school traditionally begins at kindergarten, it is actually the ages between birth and five that make the most difference in a child’s education.

Cabell and Wayne counties have been working very hard to make sure that every young child gets a good start in their education, health and moral development. Agencies work together and share resources. We have more nationally accredited child care centers than any other area of the state.

Our area has already made millions of dollars of investments in early childhood. Empowerment Zone funds have constructed such high quality early education facilities as Children’s PLACE, Enterprise Child Development Center and the Marshall University Child Development Academy. The New Steps parenting education program was funded to provide new parents with important guidance and information. Businesses have volunteered in local centers.

Yet, sustaining these efforts has become a challenge. Funds for children have been cut drastically and resources for young children are dwindling. Child care centers and early parent education programs are being forced to lay off staff, increase class size and make other necessary financial decisions that aren’t always in the best interest of children. While K-12 education has been somewhat insulated by many of these cuts, early childhood programs have struggled to keep up. Unless we are able to maintain our investment in young children during difficult budget times and find ways to increase our commitment despite these difficulties, we will always be struggling to achieve the future we hope for our community.

Education starts early. So does economic development. We can’t ignore the needs of our future workforce and say that we are truly committed to changing the economic picture in our area. The same effort that governments, business and citizens are putting into developing sites and promoting our area must continue to be put into the education and care of our youngest citizens. Without them, we can never truly realize our vision for the future.