Employer-based Child Care Applications Now Open

Published on September 13, 2021

Teacher with children in class room

Interested in creating and offering employer-based child care? 

Gain knowledge, plan your project, and access up to $800,000 in funding! 

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) has partnered with Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) to create a 5-month Design Lab which will help employers, or community partnerships that include employers, prepare and plan for the creation of an on-site or near-site child care program. Employers including for-profit, non-profit, and government entities are all welcome to participate. 2021 legislation (Senate Bill 236) created an $8.8 Million Employer-Based Child Care Facility Grant Program to provide support for these projects in Colorado.  

The Employer-Based Child Care Design Lab will be kicking off soon. Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) is leading this project. If you have any questions contact Nicole Riehl or contact Angela Ben-Zekry. Businesses that are interested in the Employer-Based Child Care Grants can fill out this initial interest application form and then they will receive the full application soon. 

The Details: 

• From October 2021 through February 2022, EPIC will host bi-weekly design sessions (via video call) for lab participants to build knowledge and access tools to launch a child care program at or near your business location

• Along with a small cohort of other employers, you will work to develop your business plan and fine-tune your partnership and financial model to support a competitive grant application for up to $800,000 in funding

 

Your Commitment:

  • Bring a clear vision and hypothesis on your approach to launching the child care program
  • Identify a point person with access to personnel data and employer decision-makers who can attend all sessions and commit at least 5 hrs per week to driving the process internally
  • Engage in all Design Lab sessions and share constructively with other cohort members
  • There is no financial contribution required to participate, however; the employer-based child care facility grant program will require a financial match (25% non-profit/government, 50% for-profit)

How to Apply: 

  • (Optional) Register to attend the informational webinar on September 17 from 12pm to 1pm to learn more about the Design Lab and ask questions.
  • Priority consideration will be offered to organizations that meet the criteria defined in C.R.S. § 26- 6-804 (Senate Bill 21-236) 
Participants will be confirmed after participating in an interview with EPIC in late September and the first Design Lab session will be on October 8 from 3 - 4:30pm. If you have questions, please email employerdesignlab@coloradoepic.org and attend the webinar!  

 

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