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 for childcare.
How you can help!
EPIC is proud to champion this legislation and would love your support!
Spread the word by sharing the fact sheet on this legislation with your network
Sign on as a supporter by adding your name to the fact sheet
Share your support – email EPICpolicy@coloradepic.org and let us know you’d like to help by testifying, writing an editorial, etc.