Bright Beginnings and Johnson County Public Library to Host Early Care and Education Provider Fair in Franklin
Published: March 16, 2026 by Johnson County Community Foundation
Bright Beginnings, an initiative of the Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF), in partnership with the Johnson County Public Library, will host an Early Care and Education Provider Fair on Saturday, April 25. The fair will be from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the JCPL Franklin branch, located at 401 S. State Street, Franklin, IN 46131.
The Provider Fair is designed to support local early care and education professionals by offering valuable professional development opportunities, resource sharing, networking, door prizes, giveaways, and more. The event aims to strengthen connections among providers while equipping them with tools and information to better serve children and families in Johnson County.
About Bright Beginnings Early Care and Education Coalition
In response to growing concerns about early care and education access, affordability, and quality, the Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) has launched the Bright Beginnings Early Care and Education Coalition. This initiative, driven by a 2024 countywide needs assessment and in collaboration with Transform Consulting Group, seeks to address a critical shortage of early care and education.
With approximately 12,000 children under age five in the county and 68% of their parents in the workforce according to Brighter Futures Indiana Data Center, the need for reliable childcare is urgent. The JCCF views early childhood education as both a quality of life and economic development issue, helping parents remain employed and supporting children's early learning.
Although a Lilly Endowment grant application did not secure funding, it highlighted urgent gaps and guided the formation of the Coalition, which began meeting in 2025. Throughout the year, the group will establish goals to address local needs and engage a variety of perspectives to shape long-term solutions.
If you are interested in attending the Early Care and Education Provider Fair, please register at here.
For more information about the Provider Fair, contact Stephanie Marten, VP of Development at the JCCF, at stephaniew@jccf.org or Sarah Taylor, Assistant Director of Johnson County Public Library, at staylor@jcplin.org.
