The Athens Economic Development Corporation (EDC) hosted two meetings at the Athens Partnership Center on Friday, Nov. 22, as part of ongoing efforts to support local businesses in addressing the community's child-care shortage. In the first meeting, Thomas Burns from the Cain Center YMCA shared how the YMCA's child-care program could contribute to addressing the community's child-care challenges. Later, Champions for Children updated the EDC and local child-care providers on initiatives to recruit and train new teachers while enhancing support for existing staff. These discussions underscore the EDC’s commitment to helping businesses navigate the child-care crisis and retain a strong workforce.