Rep. Patrick Flood’s Maine Compass, “Early childhood programs help kids succeed, ensure Maine’s future,” got it right: High-quality, early education is a key component of not only children’s future successes, but also Maine’s economic competitiveness.

High-quality early learning programs, such as Head Start, are great investments that actually pay back twice — in both the short term and again in the long term.

Investments in early learning programs significantly increase sales of local goods and services. According to the national business leaders organization, America’s Edge, investments in quality early learning will generate more in new sales than investments in construction, transportation, utilities, or even farming, fishing and hunting, while also creating much-needed jobs.

In fact, every $1 invested in early learning will generate a total of $1.78 in total sales for Maine businesses. That’s the short-term payoff.

Quality early learning also will pay off in the long term by helping to ensure we have a future workforce with the skills businesses need. Children who participate in high-quality early learning programs are significantly more likely to enter school with the underlying skills needed to succeed in school and later in the work force. These programs can increase language skills, lower the need for special education and increase graduation rates by as much as 44 percent.

Given the high rate of return from high-quality learning programs such as Head Start, I am gratified that Flood and so many other state policymakers understand the importance of investing in the most important form of human capital: Maine’s youth.

Jim Clair

Chief executive officer

Goold Health Systems

Augusta