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From:Mélanie Faure <br />To:MGR-Madiha Haque; Housing rwc <br />Subject:Upwards" Public Comment <br />Date:Wednesday, April 15, 2026 12:21:05 PM <br />Attachments:Upwards Public Comment _ Redwood City.pdf <br />Hi Madiha, <br />Thanks for the reminder! <br />I attached a public comment pdf below, and look forward to attending the May 11th meeting. <br />Have a great rest of your week! <br />All the best <br />Mélanie <br />- <br />Upwards is the nation's largest network of family child care providers. We are grateful for the Housing and <br />Human Concerns Committee’s recommendation to fund the Boost program as a direct investment in <br />Redwood City's child care infrastructure, small business community, and working families. <br />Boost equips low-to-moderate income, in-home child care providers with one-on-one business coaching <br />and digital tools to strengthen their operations and grow their revenue. Providers work individually with <br />experienced Care Specialists to build a customized Business Action Plan covering marketing, optimizing <br />enrollment, finances, programming, staffing, and more. They also receive free access to our Child Care <br />Management System, which streamlines day-to-day operations and improves programming quality. <br />The Result: Providers grow their small businesses, create local jobs, and expand access to affordable, <br />quality care for working families in the community. <br />The Need in Redwood City: <br />The child care shortage in Redwood City is both a family crisis and an economic one: <br />Access gap: 30% of children under six in Redwood City lack access to a licensed child care slot, <br />leaving thousands of families— especially mothers and single parents— unable to fully participate <br />in the workforce. <br />Low Wages: Child care workers inRedwood City earn an average of $19 per hour, far below the <br />wages of elementary educators. This wage gap drives high turnover and deepens the shortage. <br />An Urgent Need: Nationally, two-thirds of child care providers report difficulty meeting basic <br />needs including food and housing — a pressure Redwood Cityproviders know firsthand. <br />A Proven Model: <br />Boost has a strong track record. Across 30 cities and counties, Upwards has mentored over 500 family <br />child care providers, created 180 new jobs, helped providers increase revenue by an average of 25%, <br />and expanded child care slots by 30–50% — all within the first year of implementation. Upwards is <br />ATTY/RESO.0019/CC RESO 2026 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN (CDBG) - EXHIBIT A <br />REV: 05-01-26 LF <br /> <br />Page 103 of 107