The Winona Early Childhood Initiative hosted a lunch Tuesday for corporate leaders and legislators featuring retired Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank Chair, Art Rolnick.
                    
Rolnick, a senior fellow at the Humphrey Institute, says there are many economic benefits through investment in quality early childhood programming.                                                                          

Rolnick says research has shown that investment in early care and education improves educational outcomes for all children, lowers crime rates and  leads to a stronger workforce. Children who fall behind find it tough to catch up.

The Winona Early Childhood Initiative is starting it's own million dollar campaign to increase and improve existing early childhood care and education.

For more information about the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation's work go to www.melf.com.