Early Childcare Expansion Fund

The Early Childcare Expansion Fund is a collective impact fund established to fund innovative local solutions to expand childcare. Your gift - big or small - will be amplified by joining others in creating a big impact for expanding access to childcare in Chaffee County. 

The Early Childcare Workforce Expansion Grant is made possible by your gifts to this fund. Visit www.chaffeecommunity.org/childcare for information on the grant and to apply. 

A Collaborative Approach Born of Crisis 

Problem:

Chaffee County is lacking licensed early childcare spots. The county needs an estimated 488 additional spots to serve the number of children currently under the age of 5. Chaffee County’s early childcare workforce is facing severe shortages. Most centers experience a 40% staff turnover rate (normal is 18%). Qualified substitutes are hard to find.

Community-based centers lack the capital to invest in childcare spot expansion that has upfront costs. A network of funding from state and private sources exists, but often requires reimbursement, programs to be in existence, or includes strings that involve additional expenses. 

Existing Resources:

Voters approved BOCC to dedicate up to 60% of its lodging tax to affordable housing, early childhood education and other initiatives to enhance the visitor experience.

• Chaffee County Early Childhood Council: Provides a variety of supports to centers, educators, and creates a conduit to access state funded programs locally. 

• Chaffee County Community Foundation: Offers grant making services and provides supports to nonprofit organizations. 

Investment in childcare growth has potential to leverage 4X the funds from local and state sources.

Proposed Solution: A Comprehensive Early Childcare Expansion Plan for Chaffee County

Invest in the Childcare Workforce: 

• Dedicate County funding to create and administer an early childhood training program to increase the number of qualified substitutes and foster the pipeline to permanent growth in the early childcare educator workforce. 

• $100,000 annually has the potential to increase qualified early childcare workforce by 30% over the next five years. 

Invest in Community-wide Childcare Expansion:

• Dedicate funding to an Emerging Centers Grant to create a competitive grant process for local centers to fill the capital gap that exists locally for spot expansion. 

• Up to $250,000 annually has the potential to increase licensed childcare spots by 26% over the next five years.