Today is the final day for parents to take part in an online survey about child care in the area, and whether there’s enough available to meet their needs.

The Marion County Development Commission is helping to conduct the survey, which measures the number of families with children which need day care services and the availability of that care in the county.

Carla Eysink is Executive Director of the Commission; she tells KNIA/KRLS News an examination of the business climate last year showed child care was highly desired, but in short supply…and solving this problem is essential for workers, and for companies.

“If the housing that we are putting up is successful, and we are able to continue to grow our population, we know that from what we’ve heard there’s challenges today with shortages of certain types of care,” Eysink says. “Obviously as populations grow and we get younger workers in here, it’ll become a heightened issue.”

Eysink says if child care isn’t available, then it poses a problem for local companies; workers will start leaving or not coming to the area, and those which remain will be hard-pressed to concentrate on their jobs while worrying about caring for their children.

The PACE Alliance, First Children’s Finance, and local businesses are partnering with the commission in the survey. Click here for links to the survey.