Governor DeWine spoke to the General Assembly about some of the accomplishments that the state has had in the past year and the goals he has for Ohio in the future. Help wanted signs are up in many Ohio businesses. To get parents to fill those positions, DeWine is calling for the creation of a childcare voucher program, so their kids will be watched while mom and dad are at work.

A major milestone in providing high quality childcare in Wapakoneta was achieved on Tuesday!

Prior to the pandemic women made up 50% of the workforce but because of the lack of childcare, they quit their jobs. They stayed home to take care of the children as more and more childcare facilities closed. In Allen County, there were 60 publicly funded childcare facilities before COVID and there are only 20 at the beginning of the year.

Governor Mike DeWine says they are still working on the plan and he says this is too important not to get 100% right. He wants Ohio’s childcare plan to lead the way for the country. Ohio's governor also says coronavirus testing is increasing. The state used to only test a few thousand daily and now that’s up to 14,000 a day. The Ohio Director of the Department of Health, Dr. Amy Acton, announced that Ohio has confirmation that 5 people experienced symptoms of the virus back in January. The Center for Disease Control originally confirmed the first U.S. positive case in late January which was on the West Coast. Next week begins sampling of 1200 volunteers for antibody testing.

Activate Allen County is hoping to get the youngest among us healthy and moving. After working with businesses and schools, Activate Allen County now putting the challenge out to childcare centers to support healthy behavior in children. Any Allen County childcare facility can sign up for the challenge. In return, Activate Allen County will award funds and provide technical assistance to three area childcare centers all in an effort to make their environments healthier.