Upon the passage of ballot initiative 6E in 2022, the Town of Estes Park worked diligently to create systems and processes to ensure the proper stewardship of the estimated $5 million collected annually to address issues related to childcare and workforce housing in the valley. The creation of a new Housing and Childcare Manager position, filled by Carlie Bangs, has helped usher into existence new childcare initiatives that local childcare providers have been quick to take advantage of. The passage of the 2023 Early Childhood Workforce Subsidy in October led to three eligible childcare centers receiving much-needed funding to address workforce challenges, including the requirement that all teachers receive a minimum wage of $20/hour. Mountaintop Childcare, Beverly K Booe Early Childhood Center at the YMCA of the Rockies Bennett Building, and Park Place Preschool at Estes Park Elementary School have all been approved to receive funding under this workforce subsidy program.
Christy DeLorme, who has owned Mountaintop Childcare since 2018 stated, “These funds will help us provide increased wages to all of our amazing teachers”. In addition to supporting wages, the 2023 Workforce Subsidy can be used for staff benefits, retention and recruitment bonuses, staff training, and housing.
“This is the first of many funding programs that will provide financial support and stability to childcare providers in our community”, stated Carlie Bangs. The workforce subsidy program is expected to be an annual subsidy for licensed providers, including home childcare providers. Home childcare providers are eligible for the annual subsidy when they have a Level 2 Rating on the statewide quality assurance program, Colorado Shines. EVICS Family Resource Center has been working alongside home providers to improve their rating so they are eligible for 2024 funds.
The Town Board and Larimer County Commissioners approved an annual funding plan for 6E funds in September 2023 that prioritized using childcare funds for capital projects, addressing workforce challenges, tuition assistance, and out-of-school programming. Out-of-school programming is supervision for school-aged children when school is out of session, such as teacher professional development days, after-school or before-school care, and summer programming. Care and supervision of school-age children these days can be a huge challenge for working parents in the Estes Valley. Organizations such as the YMCA of the Rockies, the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, and the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County have been providing these essential programs throughout the valley and 6E funds have been made available to support those programs.
Recently, the Town Board awarded a $75,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club intended to support workforce challenges and stabilize their existing programming, while planning for future growth in programming. Currently, the Boys and Girls Club offers after-school programming for free to children 6-13 years of age out of the Estes Park Elementary School. There are 35 children enrolled, with a waitlist of over 40 children. These funds will go directly to supporting current staff, recruiting more staff, and intend to make a huge impact on the programming they’re able to provide.
The Estes Valley Recreation and Park District also received a grant at the end of the year to expand programming that serves four to six-year-olds in the Cubs Den at the Community Center. Children who are in preschool and Kindergarten have limited options for after-school activities as preschoolers cannot ride the bus, and Kindergarteners are not old enough to attend Boys and Girls Club. EVRPD offers an after-school recreation program called Lil’ Bobcats Playtime to serve families with children in this age group. With 6E funds, the program will expand to be able to serve children 5 days a week.
In 2023, over $300,000 in 6E funds were used to help address childcare challenges in Estes Park. Unused funds roll over to 2024 and the work will continue. Deputy Town Administrator, Jason Damweber, who developed the first 6E funding plan, stated, “We are thrilled to have this new revenue source to work with and I am pleased that much needed financial assistance is now finding its way to local providers. We still have a lot of work to do moving forward to ensure the sustainability of existing programming and to create new opportunities and options for parents of children beginning at infancy, but I am optimistic that the foundational work occurring now will lead to excellent outcomes in the not too distant future.”
Follow Housing and Childcare updates at www.estes.org/workforcehousingandchildcare. Questions or thoughts? Please feel free to reach out to Carlie Bangs, Housing and Childcare Manager at the Town of Estes Park, [email protected].
