DEN faces a multi-layered challenge in improving child care access for its workforce. With more than 40,000 employees representing hundreds of employers, coordinating solutions across a highly decentralized employment environment is essential. Airport surveys showed that over half of respondents reported child care barriers significant enough to affect job retention, with some considering leaving their roles due to lack of care.

The area surrounding DEN is also a designated “child care desert,” with extremely limited access to licensed child care slots. Any solution needed to be equitable and responsive to lower-wage earners, multilingual families and employees working non-traditional or varying shifts. Given strict regulatory requirements at the airport, the project further required a cohesive governance framework, sustainable financing strategies and administrative simplicity to ensure long-term feasibility.

EPIC and DEN evaluated three primary solution pathways:

• 1. On- or Near-Site Child Care Center
  Assessed real estate options, operating models and partnership pathways to open a new child care facility at or near the airport
• 2. Child Care Stipends or Scholarships
  Developed a framework for employers (or DEN centrally) to offer direct financial support to employees for existing child care options
• 3. Employer Solutions Fund
  Explored a pooled investment model in which DEN-based employers contribute to a shared fund that expands workforce access to care through grants, wage enhancements, or shared infrastructure

To inform each option, the team conducted interviews with airport employers, facilitated steering and advisory committee meetings, analyzed potential sites and modeled financial feasibility across scenarios.

The feasibility study identified a near-site child care center as the most viable and sustainable solution for DEN. Analysis confirmed strong demand, supportive operating economics, and practical pathways for implementation relative to other options.

The study also determined that child care stipends and an employer solutions fund are not feasible at this time, given the decentralized employer landscape, administrative complexity and limited ability to ensure equitable distribution of benefits across the workforce.

Key results include:

• • Developed clear frameworks for a potential near-site care solution, including governance, funding considerations and implementation needs
• • Built broad stakeholder alignment around pursuing a near-site child care center as the leading strategy
• • Identified potential real estate opportunities suitable for a future center
• • Equipped DEN leadership and partners with actionable recommendations and a phased roadmap for moving forward

DEN will continue advancing site-specific feasibility, partnership development and implementation planning into 2026. This includes deeper evaluation of real estate options, refining the preferred operating model and securing partners needed to bring a near-site child care center to fruition.