The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced that Jessica Belitz, Director of Workforce for the Blount Partnership, was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants to participate in a Master Class for members of the Business Leads Fellowship Program network. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips business leaders from across the country with resources, experts, and a powerful network of peers needed to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges facing communities across America.
“I’m honored to be selected for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Master Class and to join this incredible network of leaders tackling one of our nation’s most urgent workforce challenges—childcare,” said Belitz. “Access to quality childcare is critical not only for working families but for the strength and resilience of our local economy. I look forward to bringing back valuable strategies and insights to help create solutions that support both our workforce and our community.”
This Master Class is designed to equip business leaders with research, resources, and best practices to launch community-based childcare solutions. The event kicks off with a two-day, in-person event on May 5-6, 2025, in Boise, ID, with virtual follow-up meetings. Throughout the Master Class, participants will meet with experts in the field, review case studies of successful community models, and build connections with other business leaders driving solutions to childcare breakdown.
Belitz was selected alongside 32 other state and local chamber executives, economic development professionals, and association leaders nationwide. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation aims to equip this group with the resources to successfully navigate community childcare concerns. This group will build a community of practice among the participants, which will be a resource for their professional development in service to their respective communities.