La Plata Childcare Investment Fund

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

Contact: yeslpc.com/alliance-programs/childcare-strategy