La Plata Childcare Investment Fund

Purpose: To create new childcare slots and support early childhood education system in La Plata County by increasing educator wages and expanding/stabilizing childcare facilities.

Geographic Scope: La Plata County, Colorado

Focus Areas:

• Increasing wages for early childhood educators
• Expanding childcare facilities
• Stabilizing childcare facilities
• Creating new childcare slots

Goals:

• Create 420 new childcare slots over 3 years
• Year 1 funding target: $2.2 million
  • $1.2 million: early childhood educator wage increases
  • $800,000: facility expansion and stabilization

Background:

• County loses $34 million in wages annually due to childcare shortages
• Developed through La Plata Childcare Strategic Investment Plan
• Input from over 300 community members including childcare providers, employers, and families
• Combines public, private, and employer investments

Funding Sources:

• $50,000 initial philanthropic match from Michael and Elaine Moravan Foundation (private)
• La Plata County lodging tax reallocation (public)
• City of Durango discretionary lodging tax (public)
• Other public, private, and employer investments

Administration: Early Childhood Council of La Plata County (ECC) administers the Fund; ECC has supported La Plata County's early childcare system for nearly 3 decades and provided $1M+ in cash and $2.5M+ in in-kind support to local providers

Coordination: Developed by ECC and La Plata Economic Development Alliance

Application Process

How to Engage:

• Community members encouraged to read full strategy and provide feedback
• Comment and feedback process available at yeslpc.com/alliance-programs/childcare-strategy
• Specific application process for childcare providers to be developed

Eligible Uses:

• Educator wage increases
• Facility expansion projects
• Facility stabilization efforts

Administration:

• Applications and funds administered through Early Childhood Council of La Plata County
• Based on La Plata Childcare Strategic Investment Plan framework