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In this quick-hit episode, Greg and Doug break down three timely topics every employer should track:

• Federal shutdown implications for childcare: potential CCDBG disruptions, what’s likely, and how to support employees if subsidies pause or payments lag.
• The Child Care Modernization Act (SB 2828): bipartisan momentum, key provisions to fix provider payment rates, increase supply, and support mixed-delivery care—and why appropriations still matter.
• Colorado’s playbook: why the state ranks high on family resources, and market lessons on aligning employers, providers, government, and tech to actually move the needle.

Why it matters: Childcare is workforce infrastructure. When care is unavailable or unaffordable, employers lose talent and productivity. Get the signals to watch and practical moves to prepare.

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Thank you for joining us on 'Childcare Tax Break Breakdown'! If you found our deep dive into childcare benefit programs insightful, please consider subscribing for more valuable discussions. For further information, questions, or to share your experiences with childcare benefits, DM Doug or myself here on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll explore more current and upcoming childcare grants and tax programs employers can take advantage of. Don't forget to leave us a review and share this episode with your colleagues. Together, let's make the most of workplace benefits and tax breaks!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial or legal advice. Tax rules change and can be complex, so it's always a good idea to check with a professional for your specific needs. We're not responsible for how this information is used.

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New Mexico just became the first state to offer FREE childcare to everyone. Iowa gave $14M to businesses to figure it out themselves. Which approach actually works?

In Episode 16, Greg and Doug break down two radically different approaches to America's childcare crisis after spending a week on the road with employers facing real challenges.

What you'll learn:

• How New Mexico's $1B universal childcare program works (and why it might fail)
• Iowa's $16,000-per-slot business grant model - the math behind it
• The distribution center paradox: when workers start at 6AM but daycares can't legally open until 6AM
• Why a state chamber told us "even with all our influence, we can't solve this alone"
• The "grandparent economy" - unconventional supply solutions that actually work
• How one resort company with 4,500 employees admitted they were "designing blind"

Key insights:

• 76% of C-suite execs say childcare is their #1 workforce barrier
• Childcare costs 30% of income in destination communities (federal benchmark: 7%)
• New Mexico families save $12,000 per child annually starting November 1st
• Iowa needs 48,000 more slots but only created 874 in 3 years

Plus: Greg's Disneyland analogy that perfectly captures the supply problem, Doug's take on whether $18/hour is enough for childcare workers, and why they might have a fourth kid if childcare was actually free.

Perfect for: HR leaders, benefits professionals, employers struggling with recruitment/retention, and anyone trying to understand how childcare became America's biggest workforce crisis.

Support the show

Thank you for joining us on 'Childcare Tax Break Breakdown'! If you found our deep dive into childcare benefit programs insightful, please consider subscribing for more valuable discussions. For further information, questions, or to share your experiences with childcare benefits, DM Doug or myself here on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll explore more current and upcoming childcare grants and tax programs employers can take advantage of. Don't forget to leave us a review and share this episode with your colleagues. Together, let's make the most of workplace benefits and tax breaks!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial or legal advice. Tax rules change and can be complex, so it's always a good idea to check with a professional for your specific needs. We're not responsible for how this information is used.

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We dive into the enhanced employer-provided child care tax credit hidden in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and why ignoring this opportunity is benefits malpractice for employers seeking to attract and retain talent.

• The employer-provided child care tax credit (45F) is increasing from $150,000 to $500,000 for large businesses and $600,000 for small businesses starting January 1, 2026
• Large businesses can now receive 40% back and small businesses 50% back on qualified child care expenditures
• The new legislation clarifies that employers can use third-party intermediaries and don't need to build or operate their own facilities
• Small businesses can pool resources to implement shared child care programs
• Payments must go directly from employer to provider, not through employee accounts
• Properly structured benefits can help reduce an employee's annual child care costs from $15,000 to $5,900 with just a $3,000 employer contribution
• The program can be stacked with state tax credits, Dependent Care FSAs (now $7,500), and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
• Companies have roughly six months to design and implement programs to take advantage of this credit starting in 2026

Support the show

Thank you for joining us on 'Childcare Tax Break Breakdown'! If you found our deep dive into childcare benefit programs insightful, please consider subscribing for more valuable discussions. For further information, questions, or to share your experiences with childcare benefits, DM Doug or myself here on LinkedIn. Stay tuned for our next episode, where we'll explore more current and upcoming childcare grants and tax programs employers can take advantage of. Don't forget to leave us a review and share this episode with your colleagues. Together, let's make the most of workplace benefits and tax breaks!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial or legal advice. Tax rules change and can be complex, so it's always a good idea to check with a professional for your specific needs. We're not responsible for how this information is used.