It’s the end of another 120-day session of the Colorado state legislature, and as always, it was a sprint at the end, with the legislature logging 8 straight days of work, finishing at about 10 pm on the final day. At the end of session, many discussions were focused on the Governor’s signature land-use legislation (SB 23-213) and property tax referendum (SB 23-303). The land-use bill failed, and the property tax bill passed and will go to the voters in November. Both topics are likely to be dominant discussions in the next session. This was a very successful legislative session for EPIC, with our top bill, Continuation of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (HB 23-1091), passing with overwhelming bipartisan legislative support and support from over 65 organizations across the state. Thank you so much to our partner organizations and the EPIC members who testified, wrote guest columns, and called your representatives. We couldn’t have done it without you! A big thanks also goes out to the EPIC team and our policy consultants, William Mutch and Beth Melton, for their hard work and efforts on EPIC’s behalf. The other bills on our support list also moved through the entire process this session and EPIC played a meaningful role in each of them — through direct advocacy, testimony, and coalition support. This session has been described by some as the “session of implementation” and this held true across several early childhood bills this session, with clean-up bills for the Department of Early Childhood (HB 23-1235) and Proposition EE (Universal Pre-K funding) revenue retention (HB 23-1290). We also had a few bills that will help people enter the early childhood workforce (SB23-205 and HB 23-1246), and finally, a bill creating bonus payments for new Universal Pre-K providers with additional amounts for serving infants and toddlers and low-capacity areas (SB23-269). We are also very excited that EPIC members and employers across the state were successful in advocating for $3 million in funding for employer-based child care through the Joint Budget Committee! Thank you all for your continued work on early childhood issues in Colorado. The voices of business leaders are powerful, and your support for early childhood helps to support the workforce of today and tomorrow! In the interim and during the next session, there will continue to be opportunities to get involved, and we’re always interested in hearing from you. CCTC Bill Signing on May 23, 2023
EPIC is continuing to represent Colorado’s business community in advocating for policies that advance the workforce of today while developing the workforce of tomorrow. Child Care Contribution Tax Credit House Bill 23-1091 Continuation of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit provides tax credits that drive $60 million a year to child care in Colorado. EPIC is leading the coalition supporting this high-priority bill, and we are proud to say that the Denver Post recently reported that it has been identified as the #2 priority for funding by Democrats in both the House and Senate! If you haven’t let your Senator know that you support the continuation of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, now’s a great time to do it! Not sure who your Senator is? Find out here: Find My Legislator | Colorado General Assembly Other Important Legislation Here’s a bit about some of the other important bills we’re supporting this session: A requirement for employers to provide notice of the earned income tax credit and child tax credit to their employees to help increase awareness and utilization. Two bills that will help to train more early childhood teachers in Colorado – one through a zero-cost credentialing program and the other through with universal scholarships for graduating Colorado high schoolers. Bonuses to support Universal Pre-K by incentivizing providers to participate and to retain or expand their infant and toddler capacity. A bill referring a question to Colorado voters to allow the state to retain all of the revenue generated by the nicotine and tobacco tax created in 2020 for Universal Pre-K.
EPIC and Clayton Early Learning partnered on an event earlier this month. “Futures Grow Here – Denver Mayoral Candidate Conversations about the Future of Colorado Families” was hosted at the Clayton campus in Denver where six Mayoral Candidates were represented including Kelly Brough, Chris Hansen, Mike Johnston, Andre Rougeot, Surrogate Niki Gill Adams, Executive Director of Community Based Child Care Licensing for Leslie Herod and Surrogate Dr. Val Flores for Debbie Ortega. Candidates answered questions from Clayton Early Learning Center parents on topics important to Colorado families including air quality, mental health safety, affordable housing, and incentivizing Denver’s employers to provide child care. A big Thank You to Clayton for hosting this great event and to the mayoral candidates, Clayton parents and guests for joining us.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230315_mayors-forum_002.jpg8001200Cassie Leyva/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngCassie Leyva2023-03-28 12:12:282025-06-12 14:28:04Futures Grow Here – An EPIC Event with Clayton Early Learning
We are thrilled to announce that the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) has partnered with EPIC to bring back the Employer-Based Child Care Design Lab 2.0 to support employers, or community partnerships that include employers, to prepare and plan for the creation of an on-site or near-site child care program. Starting now through August 2023, EPIC will host a series of virtual design sessions for lab participants to build knowledge and access tools to launch a child care program, at or near their business locations. The inaugural Design Lab brought applicants from all industries and sectors, including local government, ski resorts, food industries, hospitals and school districts. This program was vital to organizations learning about topics outside of their areas of expertise and was highly beneficial to their community. Some of the employers in the Design Lab were: Steamboat Ski Resort, Community Hospital, Grand Junction, Fuel & Iron, Clear Creek School District, Weld County R-1 School District, Vail Valley Foundation, City of Aspen, Devonshire Acres and Rio Blanco County & City of Meeker. Project work continues for participants, many in rural and frontier communities. “This Design Lab helped us to show so many that said this was an impossible project that not only was it possible but would benefit our community in a multitude of ways now and in the future” Clear Creek County Representative Click here to learn more.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Adeeb-Khan2.png295296Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2023-03-15 13:20:542025-06-12 14:26:20EPIC Board Member Adeeb Khan and Son Advocate for Universal Preschool Enrollment
EPIC’s 2023 Advocacy Successes
/in BlogIt’s the end of another 120-day session of the Colorado state legislature, and as always, it was a sprint at the end, with the legislature logging 8 straight days of work, finishing at about 10 pm on the final day. At the end of session, many discussions were focused on the Governor’s signature land-use legislation (SB 23-213) and property tax referendum (SB 23-303). The land-use bill failed, and the property tax bill passed and will go to the voters in November. Both topics are likely to be dominant discussions in the next session. This was a very successful legislative session for EPIC, with our top bill, Continuation of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (HB 23-1091), passing with overwhelming bipartisan legislative support and support from over 65 organizations across the state. Thank you so much to our partner organizations and the EPIC members who testified, wrote guest columns, and called your representatives. We couldn’t have done it without you! A big thanks also goes out to the EPIC team and our policy consultants, William Mutch and Beth Melton, for their hard work and efforts on EPIC’s behalf. The other bills on our support list also moved through the entire process this session and EPIC played a meaningful role in each of them — through direct advocacy, testimony, and coalition support. This session has been described by some as the “session of implementation” and this held true across several early childhood bills this session, with clean-up bills for the Department of Early Childhood (HB 23-1235) and Proposition EE (Universal Pre-K funding) revenue retention (HB 23-1290). We also had a few bills that will help people enter the early childhood workforce (SB23-205 and HB 23-1246), and finally, a bill creating bonus payments for new Universal Pre-K providers with additional amounts for serving infants and toddlers and low-capacity areas (SB23-269). We are also very excited that EPIC members and employers across the state were successful in advocating for $3 million in funding for employer-based child care through the Joint Budget Committee! Thank you all for your continued work on early childhood issues in Colorado. The voices of business leaders are powerful, and your support for early childhood helps to support the workforce of today and tomorrow! In the interim and during the next session, there will continue to be opportunities to get involved, and we’re always interested in hearing from you. CCTC Bill Signing on May 23, 2023
Policy Update
/in BlogEPIC is continuing to represent Colorado’s business community in advocating for policies that advance the workforce of today while developing the workforce of tomorrow. Child Care Contribution Tax Credit House Bill 23-1091 Continuation of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit provides tax credits that drive $60 million a year to child care in Colorado. EPIC is leading the coalition supporting this high-priority bill, and we are proud to say that the Denver Post recently reported that it has been identified as the #2 priority for funding by Democrats in both the House and Senate! If you haven’t let your Senator know that you support the continuation of the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, now’s a great time to do it! Not sure who your Senator is? Find out here: Find My Legislator | Colorado General Assembly Other Important Legislation Here’s a bit about some of the other important bills we’re supporting this session: A requirement for employers to provide notice of the earned income tax credit and child tax credit to their employees to help increase awareness and utilization. Two bills that will help to train more early childhood teachers in Colorado – one through a zero-cost credentialing program and the other through with universal scholarships for graduating Colorado high schoolers. Bonuses to support Universal Pre-K by incentivizing providers to participate and to retain or expand their infant and toddler capacity. A bill referring a question to Colorado voters to allow the state to retain all of the revenue generated by the nicotine and tobacco tax created in 2020 for Universal Pre-K.
Futures Grow Here – An EPIC Event with Clayton Early Learning
/in BlogEPIC and Clayton Early Learning partnered on an event earlier this month. “Futures Grow Here – Denver Mayoral Candidate Conversations about the Future of Colorado Families” was hosted at the Clayton campus in Denver where six Mayoral Candidates were represented including Kelly Brough, Chris Hansen, Mike Johnston, Andre Rougeot, Surrogate Niki Gill Adams, Executive Director of Community Based Child Care Licensing for Leslie Herod and Surrogate Dr. Val Flores for Debbie Ortega. Candidates answered questions from Clayton Early Learning Center parents on topics important to Colorado families including air quality, mental health safety, affordable housing, and incentivizing Denver’s employers to provide child care. A big Thank You to Clayton for hosting this great event and to the mayoral candidates, Clayton parents and guests for joining us.
EPIC’s Design Lab 2.0 Open for Applications
/in BlogWe are thrilled to announce that the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) has partnered with EPIC to bring back the Employer-Based Child Care Design Lab 2.0 to support employers, or community partnerships that include employers, to prepare and plan for the creation of an on-site or near-site child care program. Starting now through August 2023, EPIC will host a series of virtual design sessions for lab participants to build knowledge and access tools to launch a child care program, at or near their business locations. The inaugural Design Lab brought applicants from all industries and sectors, including local government, ski resorts, food industries, hospitals and school districts. This program was vital to organizations learning about topics outside of their areas of expertise and was highly beneficial to their community. Some of the employers in the Design Lab were: Steamboat Ski Resort, Community Hospital, Grand Junction, Fuel & Iron, Clear Creek School District, Weld County R-1 School District, Vail Valley Foundation, City of Aspen, Devonshire Acres and Rio Blanco County & City of Meeker. Project work continues for participants, many in rural and frontier communities. “This Design Lab helped us to show so many that said this was an impossible project that not only was it possible but would benefit our community in a multitude of ways now and in the future” Clear Creek County Representative Click here to learn more.
EPIC Board Member Adeeb Khan and Son Advocate for Universal Preschool Enrollment
/in BlogAdeeb Khan and his preschooler son, Taj Khan, advocate for enrollment in Universal Preschool.