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Bannock County, United Way of Southeastern Idaho Launch KIDS First Coalition to Strengthen Local Workforce, Economy

October 2, 2025

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(Bannock County Press Release, October 1, 2025)

BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho – Bannock County and United Way of Southeastern Idaho are proud to announce a new partnership initiative focused on building a stronger economy by tackling one of the biggest challenges facing working families: affordable and accessible childcare.

The KIDS First Coalition pilot program, which officially launched on October 1, 2025, is designed to help more parents stay in the workforce, support local employers, and grow the regional economy.

The high cost and limited availability of childcare—driven by provider shortages, low wages, and high turnover—are major hurdles for Idaho parents, limiting their participation in the local economy. At the same time, recent data shows a drop in southeast Idaho’s labor force numbers from 2024 to 2025, meaning more people are leaving the workforce entirely. The high cost of childcare is a key reason why.

The KIDS First Coalition addresses this problem by treating childcare as critical infrastructure for the economy. Using an innovative Tri-Share model, the cost of childcare is split three ways — between employers, employees, and public funding. To launch the pilot program, the City of McCammon and Bannock County have allocated one-time seed funding from their FY25 budgets. United Way, Biggie and Smalls Learning Center, and Southeast Idaho Council of Governments are the first employers to participate in the Tri-Share initiative.

Participation is voluntary and fully scalable to fit companies’ size and budgets, and the Coalition also offers easy onboarding and administrative assistance to keep things simple for employers. By helping working parents stay in the workforce, businesses can reduce costly turnover and absenteeism, giving them the stability they need to thrive.

“Access to childcare is a primary issue for building a sustainable workforce,” said Bannock County Commissioner Jeff Hough. “We’re making a smart investment in our economic future. When parents can reliably work, our businesses thrive, and our community grows stronger.”

“Quality childcare is the infrastructure that supports everything else: families, businesses, and communities. The KIDS First Coalition and the Tri-Share Pilot Program is a locally led response to the challenges our community is currently facing. The Tri-Share model represents the kind of innovative partnership our region needs, and we are proud to help lead this effort toward stronger families, a stronger workforce, and a stronger Idaho,” said Tennille Call, Director of Education at United Way of Southeastern Idaho.

Employers, childcare providers, and community partners are invited to learn more about the KIDS First Coalition and explore how to join Tri-Share Pilot Program.

For more information, visit idkidscoalition.org.

About KIDS First Coalition

KIDS First Coalition is based in Bannock County, Idaho with hopes to expand throughout all of southeast Idaho to include Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power Counties.

At KIDS First Coalition, we believe that strong communities start with strong families and that begins with access to affordable, high-quality childcare. Founded with a mission to support working families, local childcare providers, and the broader Idaho economy, our work centers around one powerful idea: childcare is essential infrastructure.

We bring together employers, parents, providers, and public leaders to build practical, sustainable solutions to Idaho’s childcare crisis, solutions that support the workforce, strengthen businesses, and give every child the opportunity to thrive.

Coalition Board Members