Summit County Government

Amount Appropriated?

$4.0M

FFID tracks stages 1–2 — stages 3–5 vary by agency, assistance type, and earmark structure.

Project Description

This project is a good use of tax payer funds because it provides a necessary service to Summit County residents, and will attract and retain workforce in one of the most desirable tourism areas in the state. In Summit, childcare options include childcare centers, public elementary early childhood education (ECE) programs, and licensed family childcare providers. Collectively these options can serve 661 children per day. There are currently 559 unduplicated children on waitlists for childcare, which is up from 345 in 2018. 42% of children on the waitlist for care are either unborn or younger than 12 months old. This indicates that demand for childcare is rising and is significantly higher than what existing providers can accommodate. \n\nSummit County and Town of Silverthorne have completed designs on a childcare center to be housed at Smith Ranch, a deed restricted housing development. The proposed childcare center will be able to serve 65 to 70 children including Early/Head Start students ranging from infant to preschool age. At the onset of the project, the estimated cost of the center was $4 million. Due to escalating construction costs over the last year, the construction estimate for the center is approximately $9.7 million. However, the need for childcare is so dire that we believe it is imperative to move forward with the project.\n\nCPF comes at exactly the right time for us to move forward with this much-needed facility, maintain our schedule, and provide an appropriate and necessary space for this critical community service.