Small Businesses and the Arizona Childcare Crisis: What’s at Stake E41
In this episode, host Thomas Barr discusses Arizona’s childcare crisis, exploring its impact on small businesses and the local economy through an interview with Patrick Contrades and Ofelia Gonzalez from First Things First.
Established in 2006 through a tobacco tax initiative, First Things First is Arizona’s main grant provider, allocating $100 million annually to enhance child care quality, accessibility, and affordability. The episode underscores the ongoing challenges faced by childcare providers and parents, accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasizes the need for sustained advocacy and community collaboration.
Listen to this episode for a comprehensive overview of the childcare crisis in Arizona, its economic implications, and insights from experts on strategies to address these challenges. Learn more about the Arizona Good Business Podcast.
Ofelia Gonzalez is the Public Information Officer for First Things First. Ofelia helps create and implement the organization’s communication efforts across Arizona. She oversees the development of FTF print communications and writes and edits editorial content for a variety of publications and digital platforms.
Patrick Contrades is the Strategic Partnerships and Development Manager at First Things First. Prior to being hired full-time with First Things First, he was a volunteer representative on the FTF Northwest Maricopa Regional Partnership Council, where he served on the council for over ten years.
Thomas Barr is the Executive Director for Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in North America. He advocates for a strong local business community that contributes to building vibrancy, equity, and prosperity across the state. A proud Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, Thomas leads the business coalition of Local First Arizona by advocating for the economic and cultural benefits provided by building strong local economies.