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    La Plata Childcare Investment Strategy

La Plata County Childcare Investment Strategy—Coming Early 2025

In response to La Plata County’s childcare crisis, the Childcare Investment Strategy is underway to provide sustainable solutions that support local families and strengthen the economy. With an estimated 36% of children ages 0-5 lacking reliable childcare options, this plan addresses the urgent need for affordable and accessible early childcare services.

Background

Families in La Plata County face significant barriers to affordable, reliable childcare. The economic impact of this shortage is substantial, with Colorado losing an estimated $2.2 billion annually in earnings, productivity, and revenue. In La Plata County, early childcare centers currently have capacity for only half of local children ages 0-5, with the average family spending up to 29% of their income on childcare costs. This investment plan will create a roadmap to bridge the gap, providing a framework for sustainable childcare expansion that meets community needs.

Our Objectives

The Childcare Investment Strategy aims to reduce childcare costs, increase capacity, and ensure equitable access to quality care for families. This initiative will support parents’ return to the workforce, bolster economic resilience, and foster business growth in the early childcare sector. Key objectives include:

  • Creating Short- and Long-Term Public-Private Partnerships: Working with local businesses and organizations to expand funding and childcare opportunities.
  • Increasing Affordability and Accessibility: Targeting financial investments and subsidies to make childcare affordable for all income levels.
  • Addressing Workforce Retention and Recruitment: Supporting childcare providers to retain and recruit qualified, bilingual staff and to ensure cultural relevance in early education.
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Employer Survey

Your input is crucial in shaping a childcare strategy that serves La Plata County’s unique needs. Fill out the survey to share your experience and insights about local childcare options, costs, and availability. Your feedback will directly impact the development of this plan, helping us identify the most effective solutions for families and the community.

Progress and Timeline

The Childcare Investment Strategy aims to reduce childcare costs, increase capacity, and ensure equitable access to quality care for families. This initiative will support parents’ return to the workforce, bolster economic resilience, and foster business growth in the early childcare sector. Key objectives include:

  • Creating Short- and Long-Term Public-Private Partnerships: Working with local businesses and organizations to expand funding and childcare opportunities.
  • Increasing Affordability and Accessibility: Targeting financial investments and subsidies to make childcare affordable for all income levels.
  • Addressing Workforce Retention and Recruitment: Supporting childcare providers to retain and recruit qualified, bilingual staff and to ensure cultural relevance in early education.

Anticipated Outcomes

By addressing these childcare challenges, the Childcare Investment Strategy seeks to:

  • Increase the availability of affordable childcare options.
  • Strengthen the workforce by enabling more parents to participate in the economy.
  • Support local businesses through an improved childcare infrastructure.
  • Enhance culturally relevant, bilingual education options to meet diverse community needs.

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Early Childcare Strategic Investment

In the News

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