Investments in high quality early care and education (ECE) provide immediate benefits to local business and the region's economy. Early Care and Education enjoy healthy economic development multipliers in both employment and earnings. This means that ECE produces economic activity and benefits beyond the transactions between parents and providers. Society's investments in early childhood education and care "can be an essential component in economic development." Southern Indiana's future economic growth depends on supporting today's workers and building an educated 21st century labor force. (author abstract)