Kalispell chamber gathering insights on child care challenges

In an effort to gather updated insights into the ongoing challenges and needs surrounding child care in the Flathead Valley, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is holding a child care survey.  

Two separate surveys for the 2025 Flathead County Child Care Survey are now open — one for businesses and one for families.  

All Flathead County business owners and managers are strongly encouraged to complete the business survey, which is designed to assess how child care availability impacts workforce participation, recruitment, and retention.  

The data will provide updated comparisons to the chamber’s 2021 survey, helping to shape practical strategies and partnerships moving forward. All Flathead County families and community members impacted by the need for care, including parents, guardians, and relatives, are encouraged to complete the family survey.  

The goal is to better understand the current child care landscape from the user perspective, including access, affordability, and availability of care.  

“Child care is not just a family issue — it’s a workforce and economic issue,” said Lorraine Clarno, president and CEO of the Kalispell Chamber. “The updated data will guide regional efforts and inform public-private solutions that work for both employers and families.” 

The state Department of Labor and Industry said in a report released last year that 66,000 Montanans don’t fully participate in the workforce because of inadequate child care. 

Most of Northwest Montana is considered a child care desert, a topic looked at in a January 2024 report from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Montana Department for Health and Human Services and Kids Count Montana. In Flathead County, only 31% of the demand for child care was being met in 2023.  

The chamber surveys are open and take only a few minutes to complete. All responses will remain confidential.  

To encourage survey participation, the chamber will be giving away a tablet. To be entered into the optional drawing for the tablet, survey participants can include an email address.  

The business survey is at http://bit.ly/4k1C0Zr  

The family survey is at https://bit.ly/43TuET3  

For questions, contact the Kalispell Chamber at 758-2800 or visit kalispellchamber.com.