DEN Set to Begin Feasibility Study with EPIC to Understand Child Care 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 child care 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 child care 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 child care needs is a major factor we must consider.”
EPIC’s work will be spread across three phases, including the development of a small child care center to serve temporary child care needs associated with the airport’s Center of Equity & Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) along with the feasibility of a larger on-site child care facility and exploration of other potential child care supports to align with DEN’s Vision 100 Plan. A variety of innovative child care 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 child care 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 child care at Denver International Airport (DEN). Set to open in 2026, the drop-in child care 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 child care center at the Denver airport – Denver 7 News
- New child care center coming to Denver airport – 9News Denver
- DIA is getting a drop-in child care center in 2026 – Denverite