MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, Sept. 10, 4:10 p.m. – Today a three-day summit of major policy makers, business leaders and philanthropists interested in national childhood development issues is winding up in Mountain Village.

Speakers for the Telluride Economic Summit on Early Childhood Investment, co-hosted by the Telluride Foundation, include Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, as well as James Heckman, a Nobel Prize laureate in economics. Other political dignitaries include Colorado Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

The goal of the conference held Sept. 9-11 in the Telluride Conference Center in the Mountain Village, is to address the economic benefits of increasing federal dollars for disadvantaged children age 5 years or younger.

“The successful development of tomorrow’s workforce is key to the economic future of Colorado and the nation and we are pleased to host many of America’s leading business and policy leaders to set a course for the future,” Ritter said. “Providing young children with the necessary tools to succeed, in school and beyond.”

According to research provided by the event’s other co-sponsor, the Partnership for America’s Economic Success, investing in children in early life strengthens the nation’s workforce and customer base. For example, according to one study, federal investments in early education for underprivileged children produce a rate of return of 16 percent per year.

Those attending the conference are interested in finding methods for increasing the range of investments for young children in the areas of health care, and other supports for the families of infants and toddlers. A recently released report from the Urban Institute and the New America Foundation found that if current policy and funding trends continue, the amount of federal monies going to address the social issues will continue to drop for the next decade.

“It is not clear at this point that our nation’s children are prepared to take on the challenges of the 21st century,” Gov. Schweitzer said. “If we invest in their development, however, then the U.S. will secure its position as a global leader.”

During the next two years the Partnership for America’s Economic Success, which was started by a group of funders, business leaders, policy experts, and advocates, will commission further research on the economics of investments in children, and next year will move forward with specifics on how to implement the campaign.

“There needs to be a broad-based approach, encompassing everything from education to health care and beyond,” Gov. Sibelius said. “Only by addressing the range of issues that affect children will we create the brighter future we are all seeking.”