Colorado Sets National Standard with Employer-Based Child Care Innovation

Colorado’s leadership in early childhood innovation continues to gain national recognition as the state expands access to employer-based child care through a high-impact partnership between Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC).

Created through a partnership between EPIC and CDEC, the employer-based child care Design Lab was developed and launched in 2021 to help address child care supply challenges within Colorado communities. EPIC’s Design Lab is a first-of-its-kind workshop that supports cohorts of employers in planning and implementing child care solutions for their workforce. Through customized technical assistance, guided research and strategic partnerships, the EPIC team draws on deep experience in the field to deliver practical, actionable pathways for employers. To date, three cohorts have completed the program, generating national interest from employers and leaders in other states looking to replicate its success.

As part of the third Design Lab cohort, three employers will open new child care facilities, creating up to 332 new child care slots, including 60 for infants and toddlers, with support from CDEC’s Employer-Based Child Care (EBCC) grant program. Each site received up to $800,000 in state funding.

Participating sites include:

• Buena Vista School District (Chaffee County) – Opening fall 2025
• The Powerhouse (La Plata County) – Opening fall 2026
• Colorado Mountain College (Garfield County) – Opening fall 2026

In addition, a former Design Lab participant, the Town of Cripple Creek, recently announced the launch of a $3.4 million facility — A Place for Kids Daycare Center and Exploratorium — to serve up to 106 children.

“Colorado’s nationally recognized early childhood governance model allowed us to make bold investments through federal stimulus funding that demonstrated the long-term value of public-private partnerships,” said Dr. Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. “The success of the Design Lab and employer-based child care model is proof that when businesses and government collaborate around family-focused solutions, we create lasting impact. These are the types of investments that strengthen Colorado’s economy and child care community, now and into the future.”

Through the Design Lab, EPIC provides planning support, peer learning, and technical assistance to employers interested in launching on-site or near-site child care in Colorado. Since the program began in 2021, 29 employers or employer coalitions have participated, resulting in more than 1,200 new child care slots statewide.

“The Design Lab gives employers the tools to act and the confidence to lead,” said Nicole Riehl, president and CEO of EPIC. “Together with CDEC, we’re showing what’s possible when innovation is paired with strategic funding and strong state leadership. This partnership is changing the child care landscape in Colorado and serving as a model for other states.”

Design Lab 3.0 outcomes:

• 3 projects awarded EBCC grants
• 332 child care slots to be created, including 60 for infants and toddlers
• 10 of 11 participants plan to implement employer-based child care
• 100% of participants said the program was essential to advancing their plans

“Our work with CDEC proves that public-private partnerships are essential to successful efforts,” said Alethea Gomez, EPIC’s Colorado Executive Director. “Especially in rural and under-resourced communities, this collaboration helps address workforce challenges, boosts local economies, and supports children and families where they are.”

CDEC invested $268,000 in Design Lab programming and has awarded nearly $11 million in EBCC grants since 2023. These investments were made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). As the ARPA funds conclude, EPIC is working with new private, philanthropic and public partners to expand and sustain this nationally relevant work.

This momentum builds on Colorado’s broader leadership in early childhood governance. In January 2025, the Center for American Progress (CAP) named Colorado a national model in its report States Seek to Improve Early Childhood Outcomes Through Consolidated Governance Structures. The report highlighted the state’s unified approach — led by CDEC — as a groundbreaking strategy for improving access, outcomes, and equity.

Media contact:
Brooke Flower, Director of Communications and External Relations
brooke@epicimpact.org