Transportation legislation is often designed to encourage private sector investments and partnerships. The legislation also allows private entities to own toll roads. New York State allows private entities that operate a transit system to apply for state matching funds and use fare revenues as the match. Early childhood care and education policy, however, has failed to recognize that child care and early education programs are part of a growing industry, one that generates significant income for local communities in the form of increased tax revenues and the purchase of goods and services. In San Mateo County, California, direct child care employment is comparable in size to the motion picture and air transportation industries.
Indirect employment is significant as well.
In contrast to other industries that are more global, virtually all jobs created by the child care industry remain in the community. For example, a developer who receives a contract to repair roads may be required to rent the lanes of the roads on which they are working, and may be charged higher rents during peak hours. In this way, developers are encouraged to complete the job quickly and, when possible, to work in the evenings or during off-peak hours. The early care and education field could use similar strategies. An excellent example is a new loan program that was developed as part of Florida's Caring for Kids initiative.