EXECUTIVES PARTNERING TO INVEST IN CHILDREN
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Category: Blog
Marking Another Year of EPIC Progress
As we reflect on an incredible 2024, we’re celebrating the achievements and milestone moments that defined the year. On behalf of the entire EPIC team, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, policy makers, supporters and community partners who took action to create childcare solutions that benefit families, employees and communities everywhere. We’re excited to build on this momentum and see what 2025 has in store! Top EPIC Moments of 2024 Childcare Solutions at Denver International Airport In the spring of 2024, the Denver City Council approved a new phase of collaboration with EPIC to support Denver International Airport (DEN) in exploring childcare solutions for 40,000 badged airport employees. As DEN focuses on equity while expanding to serve 100 million passengers, the airport aims to eliminate barriers for individuals interested in employment. At the airport’s innovative Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation, drop-in care will be offered for workforce programming participants. EPIC will continue to support the development of broader childcare solutions at the airport into the future. 15th Annual Business Leaders Dinner In September, more than 275 of Colorado’s most influential business, government, philanthropic and community leaders came together to celebrate EPIC’s accomplishments and foster collaboration on advancing early childhood initiatives. The evening featured inspiring remarks from Governor Jared Polis and Mayor Mike Johnston, the presentation of the 2024 EPIC Award to Emeritus Board Member Brad Busse and the Early Childhood Champion Award to Community Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. Catalytic Funding EPIC received a transformational investment from Pivotal, a network of organizations founded by Melinda French Gates, enabling us to expand our capacity, grow into new states, and engage business leaders who recognize the importance of childcare benefits in attracting and retaining top talent today, while also investing in the workforce of tomorrow. This investment would not have been possible without the longstanding philanthropic support from the David and Laura Merage Foundation, Gary Community Ventures, Buell Foundation, Colorado Gives Foundation, Mile High United Way, and other critical funders. We are grateful for the vision and commitment of our supporters. Read more about this investment. National Childcare Innovation Summit: Business Leaders in Action EPIC, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, hosted the National Childcare Innovation Summit: Business Leaders in Action in Washington, D.C. in December. The event brought together more than 200 business leaders from 38 states to discuss childcare solutions, strategies and the urgent actions needed to address our nation’s childcare crisis and secure its economic future. Launch of the Employer Childcare Navigator At this year’s summit, we debuted the Employer Childcare Navigator — a free, groundbreaking website designed to help businesses discover customized childcare solutions. Created in partnership between EPIC and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, this innovative tool provides employers with unbiased expertise and data-driven recommendations tailored to their unique needs. To help spread the word, we also rolled out a social media toolkit featuring ready-to-use content and assets for attendees […]
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and EPIC Partner to Provide New Online Resources for Childcare Solutions
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) announced the launch of the Employer Childcare Navigator (The Navigator) website; unveiled at the 2nd annual National Childcare Innovation Summit: Business Leaders in Action in Washington, D.C. The first-of-its-kind website will provide free unbiased expertise and data-driven recommendations to employers interested in contributing to meaningful childcare solutions and support for their workforce, including parents working shifts during non-traditional hours. The newly developed Navigator website builds on the success of the highly touted Employer Roadmap: Childcare Solutions for Working Parents developed by the U.S. Chamber Foundation. This effort takes the action-oriented support from the Employer Roadmap a step further by combining the expertise of the U.S. Chamber Foundation with EPIC’s 15 years of direct business leader engagement to create a tool that helps employers identify their needs, solutions, and action plans. The Navigator website provides free online resources, beginning with a three-minute survey to assess employee needs and determine the viability of various approaches by providing data-driven recommendations that align solutions with the employer’s workforce and operations. The site shares insights into a wide range of childcare solutions and support, tools for planning, access to solution vendors across the country, and case studies highlighting employer-based childcare successes. Ultimately, the Navigator is designed to simplify the process of understanding and implementing childcare supports that boost recruitment, retention, productivity, and job satisfaction, resulting in beneficial gains for businesses and employees. “The U.S. Chamber Foundation is committed to equipping employers with the tools they need to support working parents and strengthen the workforce,” said Aaron Merchen, executive director of early childhood education at the U.S. Chamber Foundation. “The incredible interest in our Employer Roadmap underscored the ongoing need to build on this foundational knowledge. By partnering with EPIC, we are ensuring businesses across the country can benefit from our shared expertise.” The website is made possible by a transformational grant from Pivotal, a network of organizations founded by Melinda French Gates. The grant was awarded to EPIC earlier this year to allow the organization to create access to affordable childcare and expand its efforts in Colorado to additional states and businesses. An increase in demand from a variety of industries and sectors to explore childcare benefits prompted the U.S. Chamber Foundation and EPIC to join forces, combine industry knowledge and provide unbiased guidance via the Navigator. “We are honored to work with the U.S. Chamber Foundation and create this new tool for employers and business leaders across the country, who know they want to provide critical childcare benefits but often don’t know where to start or how to get from point A to point B,” said Nicole Riehl, President and CEO of EPIC. “We recognize there are more organizations than we are able to help with our one-on-one services. By bringing together the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s reach across the nation and our skill set of offering unbiased, data-driven recommendations for childcare solutions, we were able to develop a completely original […]
The David and Laura Merage Foundation Supports National Impact as Presenting Sponsor of the “National Childcare Innovation Summit: Business Leaders in Action”
The David and Laura Merage Foundation has taken the lead as Presenting Sponsor of the National Childcare Innovation Summit: Business Leaders in Action, reinforcing its 18-year commitment to expanding affordable, high-quality childcare for all children. The Summit will provide the opportunity to dive deep into the processes and mechanisms involved in addressing childcare challenges faced by their employees and communities. Thanks to the support of the Foundation, businesses, employers and chamber/economic development partners will learn from innovators who are solving workforce retention and recruitment challenges through childcare solutions. The Foundation’s work, though deeply rooted in Colorado, has a venture philanthropy approach rooted in the investment of innovations to address childcare challenges and support impactful solutions across the nation. This approach drives key initiatives like Early Learning Ventures (ELV), which empowers childcare entrepreneurs with tools and resources through a highly customized and affordable SAAS solution to enhance quality and sustainability of childcare businesses. In addition to ELV, David Merage was critical to the development and continued success of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) and has been at the forefront of advocating for the business community’s commitment to family-friendly solutions. Together, David and Laura have brought together leaders from various sectors to prioritize early care and education as a crucial investment for our nation’s future. David and Laura Merage’s leadership extends into the business community as well, with David’s role as a founding member of EPIC, which galvanizes business leaders to adopt family-friendly practices. The David and Laura Merage Foundation is proud of EPIC’s collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on the Employer Childcare Navigator — a groundbreaking online tool that helps employers solve childcare challenges. The platform includes a vendor directory that connects employers with private and nonprofit partners across the country, turning innovative ideas into concrete childcare solutions that create new openings for families. This unique resource exemplifies the Foundation’s focus on moving from concept to implementation, driving real outcomes for children and families. A significant aspect of the Foundation’s strategy involves policy advocacy at both the state and federal levels. Their efforts have been instrumental in shaping ECE policies, increasing accessibility and quality of childcare for countless families. In January 2024, the Foundation strengthened its capacity for impact by appointing a new Executive Director, bringing additional expertise to drive innovative, high-impact solutions for early childhood education. Michael Niyompong, who oversees the Merage consortium’s initiatives, has been instrumental in advancing the Foundation’s mission. His leadership and commitment to innovation have earned him accolades such as the Aspen Institute’s Ascend Fellowship and the Denver Business Journal’s C-Suites Award, highlighting his role in driving transformative change in early childhood education. With David, Laura, and Michael at the helm, the David and Laura Merage Foundation continues to forge a path toward a brighter future for families and children through innovative, sustainable solutions.
Addressing Colorado’s Childcare Crisis: Unlocking Workforce Potential
Access to affordable, quality childcare remains a significant challenge for Colorado families. This issue impacts not only parents but also the broader economy. An estimated 10,200 mothers in Colorado are currently sidelined from the labor force due to childcare challenges. To better understand the economic implications and explore potential solutions, we partnered with Common Sense Institute Colorado to examine how improving access to affordable childcare could strengthen local workforces, drive growth and enhance long-term economic stability. Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) President and CEO Nicole Riehl recently joined Common Sense Institute Colorado’s Coors Economic Mobility Fellow Tamra Ryan, and Arvada Chamber Of Commerce President Kami Welch, to discuss new data showcasing the transformative benefits of expanding childcare access for Colorado families. Our analysis highlighted key areas of concern: Access 51% of Coloradans live in a childcare desert. There are 88,464 fewer licensed childcare slots than the number of children under age 6 with parents in the workforce. Labor Force Participation Mothers with children under age 6 are 15% less likely to participate in the workforce than mothers with older children. If mothers with young children had the same participation rate as those with older children, 60,000 more moms could join Colorado’s labor force. Career Advancement Nationwide, 71% of parents with children under 12 and 77% of parents with children under 5 reported career setbacks due to childcare challenges (2018 data). Affordability Colorado ranks 8th in the nation for the highest infant care costs, with the average annual cost being $15,325 per infant. For an average family with an infant and a 4-year-old, childcare expenses consume 38% of their annual income. The Economic Impact A return to the workforce by the more than 10,000 mothers currently sidelined due to childcare barriers could generate an economic impact of $3.787 billion. Solutions and Opportunities While the challenges are considerable, so are the opportunities. By addressing childcare issues, Colorado can unlock significant workforce potential and support economic growth. Explore the full report to learn how incentivizing childcare workers and advancing legislative efforts can create meaningful support for Colorado families. A robust childcare ecosystem benefits families, businesses, and communities alike. Together, we can create a sustainable framework that supports working parents and secures Colorado’s economic future.
2024 Policy and Advocacy Report
EPIC’s team and membership are proud to serve as leaders, advocates, and partners to advance policy priorities that create positive outcomes for families and the economy. The 2024 Colorado legislative session was full of wins for children and families and our Legislative Advocacy Overview highlights those bills and key activities driven by EPIC.
DEN Set to Begin Feasibility Study with EPIC to Understand Childcare Needs
PRESS RELEASE AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Denver International Airport (DEN) recently received approval from Denver City Council for a three-year Feasibility Study Contract to understand childcare needs at the airport and potential solutions associated. Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) will lead to study to find an actionable approach to a childcare solution for DEN. “It’s really important for us to understand how we can better support our employees,” said DEN CEO Phil Washington. “As the airport continues to serve a higher volume of passengers with continued excellence, we need to understand how to recruit, retain and grow employees throughout all stages of their lives and careers, and addressing childcare needs is a major factor we must consider.” EPIC’s work will be spread across three phases, including the development of a small childcare center to serve temporary childcare needs associated with the airport’s Center of Equity & Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) along with the feasibility of a larger on-site childcare facility and exploration of other potential childcare supports to align with DEN’s Vision 100 Plan. A variety of innovative childcare models and approaches will be explored, with a particular focus on accommodating our lowest-wage earners. The project will be completed over the course of three years. As the third largest airport in the United States, DEN would join other American airports that already offer childcare support, including Los Angeles International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport. Read the full Press Release. Update as of June 2025 Chalkbeat Colorado spotlighted EPIC’s role in expanding access to childcare at Denver International Airport (DEN). Set to open in 2026, the drop-in childcare center will be part of DEN’s new Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation. Developed in partnership with EPIC through a feasibility study, the center will offer drop-in and back-up care for up to 20 children to better support working families and strengthen the airport’s workforce. Check out more media coverage: Child care center for DIA employees’ family members in the works – FOX31 Denver KDVR Coming in 2026: A drop-in childcare center at the Denver airport – Denver 7 News New childcare center coming to Denver airport – 9News Denver DIA is getting a drop-in childcare center in 2026 – Denverite
Leveraging Business Leadership for Childcare Solutions in Colorado
In Colorado, the childcare crisis has reached a critical point, impacting not just families but also the broader economy. As business leaders, we have a unique opportunity and a profound responsibility to address this challenge head-on. At Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), we are committed to catalyzing this movement by fostering partnerships and advocating for policies that support accessible and affordable childcare solutions. Here, we summarize insights and initiatives discussed in recent Denver Business Journal articles that can help guide our collective efforts. The Need for Integrated Childcare Solutions Our advocacy group has always emphasized the necessity of integrating childcare facilities within larger community developments, especially affordable housing projects. By doing so, we not only address the childcare shortage but also enhance family well-being and community stability. Developers are encouraged to incorporate childcare centers into their projects, leveraging financial incentives like tax credits to offset the high costs associated with these facilities. Business Leadership in Advocacy EPIC has long championed the role of executives in using their influence to advocate for better childcare policies. Recently, Colorado saw legislative successes with laws that incentivize the creation of childcare facilities through property tax credits and rebates. Business leaders are encouraged to engage actively with legislative processes like those for HB24-1237, advocate for increased funding and better policies, and collaborate on initiatives like the building of new childcare centers. On-Site Childcare: A Win for Employers and Employees On-site childcare is proving to be a beneficial strategy for businesses, enhancing employee satisfaction and retention while addressing childcare needs directly. Companies like Guild and Mile High United Way have developed on-site childcare facilities, substantially reducing childcare costs for employees and setting a valuable example for other organizations. The success stories from these companies highlight the dual benefits of employee welfare and enhanced business performance through such investments. Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Opportunities Building childcare facilities, whether on-site or within community developments, involves navigating complex regulatory and financial challenges. EPIC supports businesses by connecting them with the necessary resources and expertise to overcome these barriers. Moreover, financial tools like new market tax credits and low-income housing tax credits are vital for making these projects feasible. The path towards solving Colorado’s childcare crisis requires a concerted effort from all sectors, especially from business leaders who can leverage their resources and influence for greater good. By investing in childcare, businesses are not just supporting their employees but are also contributing to the economic and social health of our communities. At EPIC, we remain dedicated to supporting these efforts, ensuring that every child and family in Colorado has access to quality, affordable childcare. Together, we can transform the landscape of childcare in Colorado, creating a model for others to follow and building a brighter future for our children and our state.
EPIC Champions Bill to Support Child-Friendly Communities and the Development of Childcare Facilities in Colorado
Through many conversations with childcare providers, businesses, and developers, EPIC has heard about the challenges communities face in trying to create new childcare supply. These conversations led us to the development of a white paper: Clearing the Path for New Childcare Supply: Solutions for Child-Friendly Planning, Housing, and Community Development (read the executive summary here). We talked to many different partners who are interested in creating new childcare, and learned more about what gets in their way. We also looked at existing models of support in Colorado and across the country. Through this work, we identified many opportunities to leverage the existing spaces in communities for childcare facilities while reducing costs and regulatory challenges for new operators, including the following recommendations: Establish community value by explicitly recognizing and supporting childcare within planning efforts and committing to policies that elevate this value. Mitigate regulatory barriers by identifying opportunities to streamline and align the various regulations that a potential childcare provider is subject to. Provide support for facility development with technical assistance and access to capital. EPIC is excited to champion 2024 legislation at the Colorado State Capitol that will create a pilot program to support the development of childcare facilities and make Colorado a leader in implementing these solutions to pave the way for new childcare supply. HB 24-1237 Programs for the Development of Childcare Facilities creates 3 programs in the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA): Childcare Facility Development Toolkit and Technical Assistance This program will provide technical assistance from consultants and related professionals to enable interested community partners, developers, and local governments to understand the technical aspects of planning, developing, building, and co-locating childcare facilities. This program is important because the people who understand childcare requirements and the people who specialize in building and development are often two separate groups. This program will help to bring these two specialized areas of knowledge together. Childcare Facility Development Planning Grant This program will help to incentivize and support local governments in identifying and making regulatory updates or improvements to community planning, development, building, zoning, and other regulatory processes to support the development of childcare facilities. Many local governments understand and recognize the importance of childcare for their communities, and this grant will enable them to investigate and implement policy and regulatory tools to make it easier to create new childcare facilities. Childcare Facility Development Capital Grant This grant program will provide local governments or public-private partnerships with money to construct, remodel, renovate, or retrofit a residential or commercial childcare facility to meet a demonstrated need for childcare in the community. This program provides much-needed access to capital funding, which is a significant challenge for communities. Why Facilities? EPIC developed the Building Up initiative to change the childcare business model in a way that supports a healthy, sustainable bottom line while ensuring access to high-quality early learning experiences for children and the ability for families to work. This initiative is focused on decreasing operating expenses, increasing revenue, and eliminating barriers to entry […]
The David and Laura Merage Foundation Spearheads National Impact as Presenting Sponsor of the National Business Leaders in Action Summit
As the Presenting Sponsor of the National Business Leaders in Action Summit, the David and Laura Merage Foundation led the way for this critical national work, cementing their vision and commitment to affordable and accessible high-quality childcare for all children across the nation. For the past 18 years, the David and Laura Merage Foundation has been a steadfast champion of early childhood care and education (ECE). Their philanthropic efforts, policy advocacy, and innovative initiatives have not only transformed the landscape of ECE in Colorado but have also had a significant national impact. The David and Laura Merage Foundation’s journey in the realm of ECE is driven by their deep understanding of the critical role early childhood education plays in a child’s development. Their commitment to this cause has only grown stronger over the years. Early childhood education is not just a priority; it’s a passion for the Foundation. While the Foundation’s roots are in Colorado, its impact reaches far beyond state lines. Through a combination of philanthropic support and direct engagement, the Foundation has become a national force. Their initiatives have been models for similar efforts across the United States. A key strategy is advocating for policy reform at both the state and federal levels. They have been instrumental in pushing for changes that benefit children and families. Their efforts have contributed to significant advancements in early care and education policies, making quality childcare more accessible to all. The Foundation’s initiatives, like Early Learning Ventures, have made a discernable impact on early childhood care and education. Early Learning Ventures is dedicated to supporting childcare entrepreneurs, ensuring that they have the tools and resources needed to provide high-quality childcare services. This innovative initiative has not only created a network of support for childcare providers but has also improved the overall quality of early education programs. As with other issues, David and Laura have applied their entrepreneurial experience and innovative thinking to the issue of early care and education. Their advocacy and commitment to the cause are evident through numerous sponsorships, speaking engagements, and contributions to articles and publications. They understand that the future of our nation depends on our ability to support the earliest developmental years of our children. Additionally, as a founding member of EPIC, David has been at the forefront of advocating for the business community’s commitment to family-friendly solutions. Together, David and Laura have brought together leaders from various sectors to prioritize early care and education as a crucial investment for our nation’s future. With leaders like David and Laura Merage at the helm and their continued support of EPIC, their commitment to the well-being of our nation’s youngest citizens remains unwavering, and the Foundation’s impact will continue to resonate for generations to come.