The WESTMARC Foundation invites regional leaders from business\, government\, education\, and community organizations to the Workforce Infrastructure Lunch\, a convening designed to advance the West Valley&rsquo\;s shared work of building the foundational systems that enable a strong and competitive labor market. Grounded in the mission of the \;West Valley Workforce Infrastructure Alliance\, this event highlights two of the region&rsquo\;s most urgent and interconnected challenges: \;Childcare &\; Early Childhood Education \;and \;Attainable Housing\, \;key pillars essential to workforce participation\, talent retention\, and long-term economic growth. \; \;
\nAs \;identified \;in \;West Valley Pipeline 2.0\, reducing barriers related to childcare\, housing\, and transportation is central to improving quality of life for residents and strengthening employer competitiveness. The Workforce Infrastructure Alliance \;builds on \;these priorities by bringing sectors together to design pilot projects\, test innovative models\, and scale solutions across the 15 West Valley communities. \; \;
\nThis luncheon will feature \;two moderated panel discussions \;that explore how workforce infrastructure investments can unlock talent\, reduce turnover\, and support employers across industries: \;
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Panel 1: Childcare &\; Early Childhood Education \;
\nReliable\, \;high \;quality \;childcare \;remains \;one of the most significant barriers to workforce participation for West Valley families. This panel will examine: \;
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The economic impact of childcare accessibility on labor force participation \;
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Strategies to expand capacity and strengthen the early childhood education workforce \;
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Opportunities for employer-supported childcare models and public \;private partnerships \;
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Early pilots \;emerging \;from the Workforce Infrastructure Alliance&rsquo\;s Childcare Workgroup \;
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By addressing affordability\, availability\, and quality\, the region can better support working families and ensure employers have access to a reliable and diverse talent pipeline. \; \;
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Panel 2: Attainable Housing \;
\nHousing affordability challenges directly influence recruitment\, retention\, commute times\, and quality of life for workers across all income levels. This discussion will explore: \;
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The connection between workforce stability and attainable housing \;
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Cross-jurisdictional approaches to increasing housing supply \;
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Innovative development and financing models aligned with employer and workforce needs \;
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