2026 WESTMARC Foundation Workforce Infrastructure Lunch: Childcare & Attainable Housing
Date and Time
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
11:00 AM - 1:30 PM MST
April 23, 2026 11:00am - 1:30pm
Location
WestVentures
10400 West Mariposa St.
Phoenix, AZ
85037
Fees/Admission
Registration: $45 - Members and $55 Non-Members per seat
Bundles of 3 seats - Members $125 and Non-Members $150
Bronze Sponsorships are available - $1,500 with 4 seats and full recognition at the event.
Contact Information
For more information, contact Kimberly Jordan 623-435-0431
Send Email
Description
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’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’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.
As 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.
This luncheon will feature two moderated panel discussions that explore how workforce infrastructure investments can unlock talent, reduce turnover, and support employers across industries:
Panel 1: Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Reliable, 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’s Childcare Workgroup
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.
Panel 2: Attainable Housing
Housing 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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Early-stage pilots and collaborative strategies emerging from the Housing Workgroup
As housing pressures continue to grow, regionwide coordination will be essential to ensuring the West Valley remains a competitive destination for both talent and employers.
