The authors outline the potential economic and quality-of-life benefits of increased spending on child care and early education in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Scott, and Washington counties in Indiana. While focused mainly on possible public spending, the potential for philanthropic, employer, community, and parent contributions are also addressed. Chapters on economic development, early care and education quality (including child care workforce issues), access to care, and affordability of care present detailed research and available statistics on the situation specific to the aforementioned Indiana counties. The authors present an argument for viewing early care and education as an economic development plan to benefit the wider economy of the region.