Smart Start of Brunswick County presented data showing the county has 22 licensed child‑care sites with total licensed capacity to serve about 1,798 children under age six — a fraction of the roughly 6,900 county residents under age six. The nonprofit described a severe shortage of infant and toddler slots: Smart Start identified capacity for approximately 106 infants across the county.

The organization outlined contributing factors: low wages for early‑childhood workers (average annual pay cited around $25,000), high operating costs for centers that run long hours, low reimbursement rates for publicly funded slots, and an overall workforce shortage. Smart Start noted child‑care tuition can consume a large share of household income — examples cited included families paying the equivalent of thousands of dollars per year for infant care.

Nut graf: Smart Start urged a collaborative approach — employer‑sponsored child care, targeted subsidies, workforce development and use of public and nonprofit funding — to expand infant and toddler capacity and ensure working families have reliable child‑care options.

Presenters said neighboring counties have many more licensed sites (New Hanover: 78 sites; Pender: 34), and urged the county to consider incentives and partnerships to make child care more affordable, expand early‑educator compensation, and explore nontraditional models such as employer‑supported care. Commissioners noted the county’s growth and urged staff to examine options, including leveraging county property and grant funding where feasible.

Ending: Smart Start requested ongoing county collaboration; commissioners agreed to consider the data and explore options during upcoming budget and economic‑development discussions.