NJEDA Seeks Public Input on How Employers Can Support Childcare

On May 19, 2023

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input for innovative ways that employers can help solve New Jersey’s childcare challenges. Input may be used to inform the development of a pilot program that engages employers in supporting New Jersey’s parents and children. The RFI can be found at http://www.njeda.com/bidding with responses due by July 11.

WHAT: The RFI will gather information and perspectives on how New Jersey employers can be empowered to offer support and resources for working parents. This includes innovative approaches to employer-provided childcare benefits, expanded partnerships between employers and childcare providers, and flexible policies for workers with childcare needs. For the purposes of this RFI, ‘childcare’ may include care for children ages 0 – 5, as well as before- or aftercare for school-aged children.

This input will help the NJEDA better understand possible strategies to strengthen New Jersey’s childcare sector in order to bolster this crucial piece of the state’s economic infrastructure. The labor force participation of working parents depends on the availability of safe, quality, affordable childcare. The information gathered through this RFI may be used to help the NJEDA shape the usage of state funds that were appropriated to the NJEDA in Gov. Phil Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget to establish the Childcare Employer Innovation Pilot Program.

WHO: The RFI seeks responses from all interested stakeholders, including those located within and outside the State of New Jersey. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Parents/caregivers
• Employers and employer associations/consortia;
• Childcare and/or parent/caregiver advocacy organizations;
• Policy and academic researchers;
• Companies that provide childcare benefit services;
• Technology companies serving the needs of families or caregivers;
• Childcare providers;
• Childcare technical assistance providers;
• Business and entrepreneurship support organizations;
• Childcare resource & referral agencies;
• Community Development Financial Institutions providing loans and/or financial support to childcare providers;
• Higher education institutions;
• Foundations and philanthropic initiatives.

HOW TO RESPOND:

All questions concerning this RFI must be submitted in writing no later than noon EDT on June 2, 2023 via e-mail to: [email protected]. The subject line of the e-mail should state: Questions – 2023-RFI-178.

Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the Authority’s website on or about June 9, 2023 at: https://www.njeda.gov/bidding/#OET as Addendum.

All RFI responses must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 11, 2023 via e-mail to [email protected]. The subject line of the e-mail should state: RFI Response – 2023-RFI-178.

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