Shining Mountains Montessori School

Chaffee County Is a Childcare Desert

Across Chaffee County, families are struggling to find reliable childcare, especially for infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. The shortage has become a major workforce and economic issue for the region.

 Chaffee County currently lacks approximately 488 licensed childcare slots for children under five.

 There are approximately 200 infants, but only 10 licensed infant care slots available countywide.

 Existing childcare waitlists often extend beyond two years.

 65% of Buena Vista parents report that childcare challenges are causing them to consider leaving jobs or relocating.

 64% of parents say childcare difficulties make it hard to secure or maintain employment.

This is more than a family issue; it is an economic infrastructure issue affecting employers, workforce retention, housing stability, and long-term community sustainability.

One Solution: The Carbonate Street Early Childhood Center

Shining Mountains Montessori School has been selected by the Town of Buena Vista to operate the new Carbonate Street Childcare Center located adjacent to the Midland Apartments workforce housing development.

 4,600-square-foot childcare center with the interior space to be built out over the next year for a projected opening in the fall of 2027

 Four classrooms designed for infants, toddlers, and preschool/kindergarten-aged children

 Two outdoor play yards

 Located adjacent to 60 deed-restricted workforce housing units

 Purpose-built to address the county’s severe infant and toddler care shortage

Planned Capacity

 8 infants (ages 0-1)

 20 toddlers (ages 1-2)

 20 preschool and kindergarten children (ages 2.5-6)

 68 total children served, including 48 children at Carbonate Street plus 20 preschool and

kindergarten children (ages 2.5-6) at the current site

A Proven Operator with Community Trust

 Nearly 200 local children served since 2021

 100% enrollment capacity with a waitlist of more than 70 families

 Level 4 Colorado Shines rating

 Zero debt and strong operational reserves

 Participation in CCCAP and UPK financial assistance programs to support a diverse population base with tuition assistance, including 30% of enrollment of families earning less than 300% of the federal poverty level (approximately $63,000 annual income for a family of two)

 Year-round programming for infants and toddlers with a summer camp option for preschool and kindergarten aged children

Why Support Matters

The Town of Buena Vista and development partners have already completed the building shell and infrastructure for the childcare facility and are working on building out the interior space. Support is now needed for pre-launch operations at the school before the school opens to come from private donations and grants if able to be secured. Any additional funds raised above our startup needs will be directed to increased financial assistance for working families.

Start-Up Cost Category Amount

Finishing Interior Build Out of Childcare Center

 Furniture and Materials

Technology Systems for Operations and Family Communication

Leadership and Teacher Payroll Pre-Operations Launch

Ongoing Funding for Financial Assistance Program

Your Investment Qualifies for a 50% Tax Credit

Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Program: Colorado taxpayers who make a qualifying monetary contribution to Shining Mountains Montessori School may be eligible for a Colorado income tax credit equal to 50% of their donation, subject to eligibility and tax liability limitations.

 Unlike a tax deduction, which only lowers taxable income, this tax credit directly reduces the amount of Colorado state income taxes owed. For example, a qualifying $10,000 donation could reduce a donor’s Colorado tax bill by up to $5,000.

 Shining Mountains Montessori School is an eligible childcare program because it is a licensed Colorado early childhood education provider serving children ages 6 and under and uses contributions to directly support qualifying childcare operations, classroom environments, educator support, and early childhood programming.

Join Us in Building the Future of Chaffee County

The Carbonate Street Early Childhood Center in conjunction with the current preschool Shining Mountains Montessori School is more than a school expansion. It is a workforce solution, an economic development strategy, and an investment in the future of Chaffee County families. We invite you to partner with Shining Mountains Montessori School in bringing this critical community resource to life.