Livingston Chamber to host 'Let’s Fix the Gap in Park County' forum on child-care shortages

Leslie Fiegel of the Livingston Chamber of Commerce told the Park County commissioners that a countywide shortage of licensed child-care capacity is constraining the local workforce and that the chamber will host a community forum to help address the gap.

"We're calling it Let's Fix the Gap in Park County," Fiegel said, and she warned that the county has "only 9 licensed here in the county" for a population of about 18,000. She said infant care is especially scarce, with a single licensed infant-care program in the county.

The forum, scheduled for Aug. 26 at the Shane Center from 6 to 8 p.m., will feature speakers from the state’s 0–5 programs, representatives of regional nonprofits and funders, and an estimated eight presenters who will explain licensing steps, funding options and business programs to support local providers. Fiegel said one employer — a hospital — recently completed paperwork to participate in a program that allows a business to apply for reimbursement funds and then reimburse employees for childcare expenses.

Fiegel framed the shortage as a workforce issue: when employees cannot secure reliable child care, local businesses struggle to staff shifts. The event will include on-site child care and information on three funding mechanisms she said are being rolled out: a state tax-related program, a Greater Gallatin United Way funding mechanism, and a local philanthropy called Futures Promise.

Fiegel asked that the county help publicize the forum; county staff indicated they believed they could display the flyer on county TVs. The presentation closed with a call for local employers, providers and residents to attend and share information about the event.

The forum organizers and county staff said the event aims to connect potential providers with state resources to make licensing and sustained operation more feasible.