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 […]
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Untitled-design-2024-12-02T194751.766.png10801080Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-12-03 02:00:342025-06-12 14:34:59U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and EPIC Partner to Provide New Online Resources for Childcare Solutions
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.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PRESENTED-BY.png10801080Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-11-19 12:42:582026-02-05 14:48:38The David and Laura Merage Foundation Supports National Impact as Presenting Sponsor of the “National Childcare Innovation Summit: Business Leaders in Action”
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.
During the 15th annual Business Leaders Dinner on September 10, 2024, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) Chief Impact Officer Steph Itelman announced the nonprofit has been awarded a transformational investment from Pivotal, a Melinda French Gates organization. As a non-profit organization rooted in the business community and uniquely equipped to provide neutral, employer-centric expertise in developing childcare solutions at scale, EPIC is excited to progress their mission through expansion within Colorado and beyond. “To be recognized by Pivotal for the critical work we have accomplished in Colorado, and encouraged to broaden our approach to help guide even more employers to providing childcare benefits is incredible,” said Nicole Riehl, president and CEO of EPIC. “This investment will enable EPIC to grow our capacity in Colorado, expand into new states, and work alongside business leaders who understand the value of childcare benefits for recruiting and retaining top talent today while investing in the workforce of tomorrow.” Federal infrastructure investments and workforce development efforts in the United States are at an all-time high. EPIC was named as a partner in the introduction of the Investing in America Childcare (IACC) Partnership at the Department of Commerce’s National Childcare Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. earlier this summer. The philanthropic partnership brings together the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Pivotal, Rockefeller Family Fund, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to coordinate efforts to leverage federal funding through the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act. Funding sets the foundation for the nonprofit to extend reach and impact For 15 years, EPIC has built a reputation for driving innovative and actionable childcare solutions through its work with a diverse range of clients with employee numbers from the tens to tens of thousands in urban, rural and resort regions. EPIC has developed a unique model of engaging with business leaders to identify tailored employer childcare approaches, provide implementation tools, and advance partnership opportunities to expand childcare capacity in communities. EPIC’s work has transformed the way businesses approach workforce support and has served more than 40 employers who collectively employ over 110,000 workers across Colorado. Now, the combination of the Pivotal investment and the timing of the CHIPS Act and IACC Partnership positions EPIC to share their expertise across a broader spectrum of industries in a variety of locations. “As a one-of-a-kind organization that provides data-driven recommendations for childcare solutions, rather than the actual solutions themselves, EPIC is uniquely situated to provide unbiased expertise and recommendations to employers in Colorado and beyond,” said Riehl. “Therefore, this investment will not only go towards expanding our services, but will also enable us to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to create unique web-based resources and tools for employers. Our goal will be to provide foundational knowledge for businesses and leaders who know they want to provide critical childcare benefits but don’t know where to start or how to […]
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-EPIC-Annual-Dinner_193.jpg451600Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-10-04 14:08:292025-06-12 14:32:51EPIC to Use Transformational Investment to Expand Employer-Based Childcare Services and Supports
Colorado’s children are enjoying more high-quality early childhood education experiences than ever thanks to PNC Grow Up Great. Launched in 2004, PNC Grow Up Great is a $500 million, bilingual early childhood education initiative that helps prepare children, particularly underserved children, from birth through age 5 for success in school and life. Expanding access to high-quality early childhood education is a logical extension of PNC’s commitment to supporting the communities where we live, work and play. PNC Grow Up Great has worked with education experts to develop valuable resources and programs to support children, families and teachers. Additionally, as part of PNC Grow Up Great, more than 150 bilingual lesson plans have been created in collaboration with renowned arts and science organizations. The driving force behind this effort is simple — research continually shows that early education access provides benefits that go beyond individual families and help the entire community. In Colorado, we collaborate with over 15 PNC Grow Up Great partners, including Mile High United Way and Clayton Early Learning. With PNC’s support, Mile High United Way has expanded early childhood education opportunities for underserved families at their new ECE Center in Denver. The program includes wraparound services such as Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), along with workforce development for aspiring childcare providers and Family Friends & Neighbor (FFN) training to help informal care providers foster quality learning. Mile High United Way intends to expand their programming to four additional neighborhoods in Aurora and southwest Denver. At Clayton Early Learning, PNC’s financial support enhances sensory learning opportunities for young learners. This includes a Sensory Garden update, expanding outdoor learning experiences for children, and Inside the Orchestra, which uses music to boost skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, language and overall literacy. Across Colorado and throughout the nation, PNC Grow Up Great employs a comprehensive approach of grant funding, employee volunteerism, awareness and advocacy to support families, educators and community partners in providing innovative opportunities that enhance learning and development for our youngest community members, setting a path for success that lasts a lifetime. Learn more about PNC Grow Up Great, and access free bilingual resources for educators, parents and caregivers, at pncgrowupgreat.com.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and EPIC Partner to Provide New Online Resources for Childcare Solutions
/in Blog, NewsThe 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”
/in Blog, NewsThe 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
/in Blog, NewsAccess 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.
EPIC to Use Transformational Investment to Expand Employer-Based Childcare Services and Supports
/in NewsDuring the 15th annual Business Leaders Dinner on September 10, 2024, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) Chief Impact Officer Steph Itelman announced the nonprofit has been awarded a transformational investment from Pivotal, a Melinda French Gates organization. As a non-profit organization rooted in the business community and uniquely equipped to provide neutral, employer-centric expertise in developing childcare solutions at scale, EPIC is excited to progress their mission through expansion within Colorado and beyond. “To be recognized by Pivotal for the critical work we have accomplished in Colorado, and encouraged to broaden our approach to help guide even more employers to providing childcare benefits is incredible,” said Nicole Riehl, president and CEO of EPIC. “This investment will enable EPIC to grow our capacity in Colorado, expand into new states, and work alongside business leaders who understand the value of childcare benefits for recruiting and retaining top talent today while investing in the workforce of tomorrow.” Federal infrastructure investments and workforce development efforts in the United States are at an all-time high. EPIC was named as a partner in the introduction of the Investing in America Childcare (IACC) Partnership at the Department of Commerce’s National Childcare Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. earlier this summer. The philanthropic partnership brings together the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Pivotal, Rockefeller Family Fund, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to coordinate efforts to leverage federal funding through the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act. Funding sets the foundation for the nonprofit to extend reach and impact For 15 years, EPIC has built a reputation for driving innovative and actionable childcare solutions through its work with a diverse range of clients with employee numbers from the tens to tens of thousands in urban, rural and resort regions. EPIC has developed a unique model of engaging with business leaders to identify tailored employer childcare approaches, provide implementation tools, and advance partnership opportunities to expand childcare capacity in communities. EPIC’s work has transformed the way businesses approach workforce support and has served more than 40 employers who collectively employ over 110,000 workers across Colorado. Now, the combination of the Pivotal investment and the timing of the CHIPS Act and IACC Partnership positions EPIC to share their expertise across a broader spectrum of industries in a variety of locations. “As a one-of-a-kind organization that provides data-driven recommendations for childcare solutions, rather than the actual solutions themselves, EPIC is uniquely situated to provide unbiased expertise and recommendations to employers in Colorado and beyond,” said Riehl. “Therefore, this investment will not only go towards expanding our services, but will also enable us to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to create unique web-based resources and tools for employers. Our goal will be to provide foundational knowledge for businesses and leaders who know they want to provide critical childcare benefits but don’t know where to start or how to […]
How PNC Supports Colorado’s Littlest Learners
/in NewsColorado’s children are enjoying more high-quality early childhood education experiences than ever thanks to PNC Grow Up Great. Launched in 2004, PNC Grow Up Great is a $500 million, bilingual early childhood education initiative that helps prepare children, particularly underserved children, from birth through age 5 for success in school and life. Expanding access to high-quality early childhood education is a logical extension of PNC’s commitment to supporting the communities where we live, work and play. PNC Grow Up Great has worked with education experts to develop valuable resources and programs to support children, families and teachers. Additionally, as part of PNC Grow Up Great, more than 150 bilingual lesson plans have been created in collaboration with renowned arts and science organizations. The driving force behind this effort is simple — research continually shows that early education access provides benefits that go beyond individual families and help the entire community. In Colorado, we collaborate with over 15 PNC Grow Up Great partners, including Mile High United Way and Clayton Early Learning. With PNC’s support, Mile High United Way has expanded early childhood education opportunities for underserved families at their new ECE Center in Denver. The program includes wraparound services such as Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), along with workforce development for aspiring childcare providers and Family Friends & Neighbor (FFN) training to help informal care providers foster quality learning. Mile High United Way intends to expand their programming to four additional neighborhoods in Aurora and southwest Denver. At Clayton Early Learning, PNC’s financial support enhances sensory learning opportunities for young learners. This includes a Sensory Garden update, expanding outdoor learning experiences for children, and Inside the Orchestra, which uses music to boost skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, language and overall literacy. Across Colorado and throughout the nation, PNC Grow Up Great employs a comprehensive approach of grant funding, employee volunteerism, awareness and advocacy to support families, educators and community partners in providing innovative opportunities that enhance learning and development for our youngest community members, setting a path for success that lasts a lifetime. Learn more about PNC Grow Up Great, and access free bilingual resources for educators, parents and caregivers, at pncgrowupgreat.com.