Building Relationships

Engaging with leaders across the region to invest in the future of our communities.

Convening Community Leaders for Collective Impact

We will engage with leaders across the region to facilitate buy-in for shared accountability and benefit. Ready Region Blue Ridge is committed to partnering with other organizations and stakeholders to implement this work. Through strategic partnerships and ongoing collaboration, Ready Regions help communities work toward common goals, leverage resources, and create lasting improvements for young children.

Ready Region Blue Ridge Partners

Albemarle County Public Schools

Blue Ridge Community College

John & Janice Wyatt Foundation

Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital

Laurel Ridge Community College

Orange County Public Schools

Piedmont Valley Community College

United Way Central Shenandoah Valley

United Way Northern Shenandoah Valley

Waynesboro City Public Schools

Shared Governance

Ready Region Blue Ridge uses a shared governance model that brings together diverse voices from across the early childhood care and education system. Through Subregional Leadership Teams, RRBR engages representatives from public and private early education programs, home-based child care centers, social services, family councils, and community partners to help guide local priorities and decision-making. These teams collaborate on key initiatives such as quality improvement, coordinated enrollment, and family engagement while addressing the unique challenges within their communities.

At the regional level, the RRBR Steering Committee serves as the primary governance body, ensuring broad stakeholder representation and community input in shaping regional early childhood priorities and supports.

Join Our Shared Governance

Ready Region Blue Ridge community partners gathered together

Elevating Child Care As a Workforce Priority with VBREE

Ready Region Blue Ridge serves as the lead agency for the Virginia Business Roundtable for Early Education (VBREE) Regional Initiative to harness the power of cross-industry regional leaders to identify and implement solutions to child care challenges. The VBREE Regional Initiative creates a unified structure for progress across regions toward priority goals to build sufficient supply of child care and strengthen the early educator pipeline so that all families can access affordable, high-quality care.

Learn More About the VBREE Regional Initiative

Children learning in an early childhood classroom

88%Of Virginia employers say their employees are late or absent due to child care challenges.

34%Of Virginia employees are leaving their jobs or the workforce due to child care barriers.

85%Of Virginia employers report that child care costs are a major burden to their workforce.

20%Of businesses in Virginia currently offer child care benefits, representing a large gap.

How VBREE Supports Child Care

Strengthening Regional Planning — VBREE helps regions understand their child care landscape, align around shared priorities, and develop coordinated strategies for support.

Building Cross-Sector Partnerships — VBREE connects leaders from businesses, local and regional governments, philanthropic organizations, and early childhood organizations to drive change.

Supporting Child Care Supply Solutions — VBREE helps communities explore strategies to increase supply through partnerships, facilities, and employer engagement.

Turning Ideas Into Action — VBREE helps transform conversation into meaningful progress through planning, actionable next steps and shared momentum.

Who Should Be Involved

VBREE brings together community partners, employers, and regional leaders committed to strengthening child care, supporting working families, and building a strong local workforce. By helping shape solutions that address the needs of families and employers, partners contribute to a stronger workforce and regional economy.