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Keith Bisson is president of CEI, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution based in Brunswick working to build a more equitable economy by growing good jobs, livelihoods and small business ownership, while advancing a just transition to a climate-resilient future.
Maine is at a crossroads. Our ability to grow and sustain a strong workforce depends on something too often overlooked in economic debates: access to affordable, reliable child care. Without it, parents can’t commit to steady work, children miss out on early developmental opportunities, and businesses lose vital staff.
The solution? An immediate investment in the Child Care Affordability Program (CCAP) — a proven, targeted initiative that helps families access the care they need while stabilizing the very infrastructure that supports Maine’s workforce.
Legislation titled “An Act to Increase Child Care Affordability and Early Childhood Educator Stability” is not just a policy proposal — it’s a lifeline. The bill, LD 1955, provides urgently needed funding for the CCAP program, which is currently facing a crisis-level shortfall. Without swift action, Maine stands to lose dozens of child care providers and seats for hundreds of children, resulting in countless working parents having to exit the labor market.
The problem is straightforward: 630 children eligible for financial assistance under the CCAP sit on waitlists due to underfunding. Meanwhile, child care businesses — unable to receive the reimbursements promised under state law — are forced to lay off staff, leave available openings unfilled or shut down entirely. In a state already grappling with workforce shortages, this is a blow we cannot afford.
This bill provides $4.8 million to support more than 550 children — a targeted investment with exponential returns. These aren’t just numbers; from Turner to Millinocket to Gorham they represent real families who can return to work, real businesses that can keep their doors open, and real children who will receive the care and developmental support they need to thrive.
Maine has made meaningful progress in expanding access to child care. In recent legislative sessions, eligibility for CCAP increased from 85 percent to 125 percent of the state median income. This ensures that more working families, particularly those who are just above the poverty line, can afford care. We’ve also taken steps to support the child care workforce by covering tuition for CCAP-eligible child care workers. These policies were visionary, and incomplete. Without adequate funding, the promise of these reforms remains out of reach for too many Mainers.
The consequences of inaction are not abstract. In rural and low-income communities, child care businesses are already teetering on the edge, potentially undermining Maine’s economy.
This is an economic development issue. Gov. Janet Mills and lawmakers across the aisle have acknowledged that increasing workforce participation is essential to our state’s future. But participation is impossible if families can’t access child care. We are already witnessing the economic toll: missed workdays, lost wages, and rising turnover in essential sectors.
Furthermore, the bill directs the development of a long-term sustainability plan, recognizing that child care access cannot hinge on temporary pilots and annual budget fights. It calls for regular reports to the Legislature and continued communication between the Department of Health and Human Services and lawmakers, simple but critical measures that will strengthen program performance.
We have the data, the policy framework, and the public will. What we need now is investment. By passing this emergency bill, Maine’s lawmakers can protect child care providers, empower families, and build the foundation for a stronger, more resilient economy.
The time to act is now. Maine’s future depends on it.