Pictured: (Left to right): Ashely Brown (CEO, Women’s Resource Center), U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan, Brittany Lamont (CEO, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance), and Veronica Thames (Executive Director, Manatee Community Foundation) at a recent meetin

U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan recently met with 37 community leaders from Manatee and Sarasota counties to discuss the current childcare crisis in the region given the early learning sector’s workforce shortage, lack of providers, and rising cost of care. The gathering was organized by the Manatee Community Foundation (MCF), which hosted the event, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA), and the Women’s Resource Center (WRC). Attendees included senior executives from local chambers, economic development corporations, community foundations, the early learning coalitions, school districts, and nonprofits for both counties.

Pictured: (Left to right): Ashely Brown (CEO, Women’s Resource Center), U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan, Brittany Lamont (CEO, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance), and Veronica Thames (Executive Director, Manatee Community Foundation) at a recent meetin