Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is steadfast in her mission to address the needs of Arizonans across the spectrum – from child care to housing and workforce development, as part of her comprehensive Arizona Promise Tour. Recently, Hobbs has been actively engaging with the community and local media to outline critical aspects of her Bright Futures AZ Initiative, which vows to slash child care costs significantly, by up to two-thirds. To prioritize accessibility and support for working parents, according to the Governor's Office, Hobbs convened a roundtable with business leaders and called for public-private partnerships to alleviate the burden of child care expenses.
Understanding the role of economic stakeholders in this societal issue, Hobbs met with executives from various industries on April 1, advocating for the state to match employers' contributions towards child care, capping at $400 per month per child. Her plans include tax credits for both contributing businesses and child care providers that expand and create more slots for children. During this meeting, the Office of the Governor reported a common understanding among attendees that child care is a critical facet impacting employee productivity and company performance.
On the affordable child care front, Gov. Hobbs' visit to Tucson highlighted the ongoing struggles that southern Arizona mothers face, underscoring the need for significant improvements in the sector. Mothers from counties like Cochise, Graham, and Santa Cruz voiced their struggles with the lack of local resources. One mother, Lopez, shared with 13 News that the dearth of support systems has left her in a bind, with childcare costs mounting to $500 a month for part-time care. Arika Wells of United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona confirmed this, stating most pay between $300 to $500 weekly for reliable, full-time childcare.
On the workforce development front, her BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative is on track to double the number of apprentices in the construction and trades industry by 2026. With an announced grand of $1 million and a subsequent promise of $3 million in future funding for expanding trade apprenticeship programs, this initiative is critical in furnishing the industry with skilled workers. The program, as reported by the Governor's Office, has already benefited close to 3,000 individuals.
Moreover, addressing housing concerns, Gov. Hobbs is pushing for her Arizona Is Home program to assist more first-time homebuyers with down payments. Finally, Hobbs has drawn attention to the plight of homeless veterans, proposing the Homes for Heroes fund in her FY2026 Executive Budget, which aims to eradicate veteran homelessness within a decade. As reported by KJZZ, the program would encompass housing solutions and a myriad of social services, reflecting Hobbs' vision of partnership and collaboration to tackle this pressing issue.
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