Today, Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt launched her Future-Ready Child Care Tour during a visit to LeafSpring School in Charlotte. The Lieutenant Governor was joined by Co-Owner Rhonda Rivers, Smart Start Mecklenburg CEO Mike Blackwelder, and local legislators and officials as she toured the school, met with providers and spent time with children. During her remarks, Lieutenant Governor Hunt announced she will visit child care centers across the state to speak with providers and families to identify solutions to the child care crisis.
“Every hardworking family in North Carolina should have access to quality, affordable child care. Instead, child care in our state is becoming harder to find and more and more expensive,” said Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt. “I can’t wait to visit child care centers from the coast to the mountains and meet with providers and families so we can work together to find solutions to this crisis.”
"I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Hunt for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit LeafSpring School and connect with our educators who were so grateful to see her. Her presence was a clear reflection of her commitment to early childhood," said Co-Owner of LeafSpring School Rhonda Rivers. "Lt. Governor Hunt's policy platform, Future Ready North Carolina, emphasizes the critical role us early educators play in our state and we are grateful for her efforts."
“We are so honored that Lieutenant Governor Hunt is launching her Future-Ready Plan and beginning her statewide tour right here in Charlotte,” said Mike Blackwelder, CEO of Smart Start of Mecklenburg County. “I can’t think of a more fitting champion for early childhood education in North Carolina. She’s continuing the legacy her father, Governor Jim Hunt, began over thirty years ago in establishing the Smart Start Network. Her plan will make both an immediate impact and produce long-term benefits for our state’s early childhood system and economy.”
“High quality early childhood education programs are essential to North Carolina’s economy and our future,” said Candace Witherspoon, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education. “They allow parents to work, to keep our businesses running, and provides the strong foundation to ensure children are successful in school and life.”
During the event, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted North Carolina’s Tri-Share program which splits the cost of child care between the employer, the state government, and the individual. Currently, the pilot program in three regions is set to expire at the end of 2026 unless additional funding is allocated.
Lieutenant Governor Hunt’s policy platform, Future-Ready North Carolina, champions investments in child care and early childhood education and workforce development, in part through North Carolina’s community colleges. As a member of both the State Board of Education and Community College Board, the Lieutenant Governor will also emphasize Career and College-Ready Graduate Programs.
Lieutenant Governor Hunt serves as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education along with Senator Jim Burgin. The task force is working to find solutions to the child care crisis by identifying strengths and gaps in the current system, strengthening public and private investment in child care infrastructure, and working to recruit and retain a strong child care workforce.
Read more about Lieutenant Governor Hunt’s Future-Ready Plan here.
Stay updated on the Future-Ready Community College Tour here.