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Early care and education are crucial for a thriving Colorado economy. Not only do working Colorado families rely upon high-quality early childhood education for their children’s learning and care, but Colorado’s employers must have a variety of these options for the modern workforce which is increasingly comprised of two-parent, working families. EPIC is at the forefront of these policy and advocacy efforts, leading the conversation. As the business community’s non-partisan voice for early childhood care and education, EPIC is influencing change and advancing policy, sustaining the workforce of today while developing the workforce for tomorrow. Quite simply, we work to grow Colorado’s economy by supporting families and children first. Through our multi-pronged program of direct legislative advocacy, policy development, press/public relations, and the gathering together of professional experts in both business and early childhood education, we are improving access to quality, affordable childcare and early education in Colorado. Examples of our legislative and policy accomplishments include: Childcare Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC) Funding for Full-day Kindergarten (HB 19-1262) Allow Home Childcare in Homeowners’ Association Communities (SB20-126) Creation of Special Districts to Provide Early Childhood Development Services (HB19-1052) Expand Childcare Expenses Income Tax Credit (HB18-1208) Amendment B Gallagher Amendment Repeal (November 2020) Through our members and our lobbying efforts, we affect change and influence public policy, shaping Colorado’s early childhood priorities and investments for current and future generations. Our efforts employ multiple advocacy strategies including leading and engaging coalition efforts, meeting with editorial boards and authoring guest columns, leveraging our leader network connections to advocate for effective early childhood policies, and proposing innovative policy solutions that directly affect Colorado’s families and workplaces. Moving forward, much of our current work is focused on: Expanding access of affordable and quality preschool and early childcare for working families Building the workforce and long-term sustainability of the early childcare and education sector Helping childcare and preschool business owners manage their real estate costs to keep their programs open, provide quality experiences, and pay the wages necessary to attract and retain qualified workers As we continue our efforts to advance these causes, our advocacy efforts include the following: Epic’s advocacy program weighed-in with Colorado’s influential Joint Budget Committee, urging their support of a $5 million supplemental request to support employer-based, childcare solutions. The pandemic has created an ideal opportunity for the State to collaborate with employers and business leaders to create solutions and leverage investments that address access and affordability for Colorado’s most under-resourced communities and workers. Epic ‘s legislative outreach program contacted each of Colorado’s House and Senate winners of the 2021 elections on both sides of the aisle, informing legislators of the organization’s active involvement in the design and implementation of universal preschool, while working to address regulatory barriers that limit childcare businesses’ ability to expand or launch programs in Colorado. EPIC has identified the following policy initiatives that will be addressed in the 2021 Colorado legislative session, which resumed February 16. Commercial Zoning, Building and Fire Code Restrictions for Family Childcare Epic has assumed a leading […]