Originally published by the Estes Park Trail Gazette. Read the full article here. Earlier this month, the Estes Park Board of Trustees expressed support for the town’s Childcare Facility Master Plan following a presentation by EPIC outlining strategies to expand childcare access throughout the Estes Valley.
The 2026 legislative session was defined by ongoing budget challenges, requiring policymakers to make difficult decisions as they worked to balance competing priorities, identify efficiencies, reduce spending and explore new revenue opportunities.
DENVER, Colorado – The Colorado Chamber Foundation, Gary Community Ventures and Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) today announced the launch of the Child Care Access Alliance, a new partnership aimed at improving the affordability and availability of childcare across Colorado.
EPIC recently welcomed Pivotal Founder Melinda French Gates, Guild President and CEO Bijal Shah, and Denver International Airport (DEN) President and CEO Phil Washington for a conversation on the critical role employers can play in advancing childcare solutions for working families. The visit follows Pivotal’s transformative investment in EPIC, reflecting a continued commitment to expanding access to childcare options.
This article was originally published by Colorado Politics. By Mike Kehoe, Lisa Steven and Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer Colorado parents are struggling to find childcare, programs that serve our most vulnerable families are stretched thin, and private philanthropy has never been more critical. Since it was first enacted in 1998, the Childcare Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC) has been reauthorized with bipartisan support because it is one of the smartest tools Colorado has to support childcare. The legislature has the opportunity this session to extend it for 10 more years under HB 26-1004.
A full version of this article was originally published by Ed Sealover on The Sum & Substance on February 18, 2026. Over the past four legislative sessions, Colorado lawmakers have advanced policies intended to improve childcare access and affordability. Despite these efforts, survey data indicates that many parents still report high costs and difficulty finding available providers.
Media Contact Brooke Flower brooke@epicimpact.org Tucson, AZ (February 26, 2026) — With Arizona families spending an average of $15,625 per year for infant childcare—and nearly half of centers statewide reporting no available infant care slots—business and community leaders are stepping forward to create solutions that make care more accessible, affordable and sustainable for working families.
The Investing in America Childcare Partnership is tackling the national childcare supply crisis by bringing together public and private funders, government agencies, employers and childcare providers to develop sustainable, community-centered solutions. EPIC is proud to collaborate with IFF and the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership as part of this initiative — helping employers understand how strategic investments in childcare can strengthen their workforce and support long-term economic growth. “Child care really is an economic imperative to ensuring a robust workforce, both today and in terms of early childhood investments,” says Steph Itelman, chief impact officer at EPIC. “Communities can’t thrive if there aren’t places for young children to be cared for and educated.” Model D Media has more on how the Investing in America Childcare Partnership is linking childcare and economic development to strengthen communities nationwide. Read the full article.
Denver’s shortage of accessible, affordable childcare continues to be one of the biggest barriers to economic growth and workforce participation. An estimated 20% to 25% of workers depend on childcare to participate in the labor force, yet supply continues to fall short. In a recent Colorado Real Estate Journal article, EPIC President and CEO Nicole Riehl and EPIC Member Neil Oberfeld, Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig LLP, highlight how real estate leaders can help address this challenge — through creative leasing strategies, employer-sponsored and shared-use models, integrating childcare centers into commercial developments, and more. Read the full article.