A Bright Beginning for Our Local Kids

Kids from Parachute to Aspen deserve a strong start before kindergarten, but early childhood care and education is too hard to find and too expensive to afford.

We are working to change that!

The Challenge

The Parachute to Aspen region is home to approximately 5,100 kids under the age of five. There is child care capacity to serve only 44% of them, making it very difficult to find child care at all. Those families who are lucky enough to find child care, are burdened by the cost. In fact, child care is often a family’s greatest expense, sometimes exceeding even their housing budget.

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The Solution

We’re proposing a region-wide investment, from Parachute to Aspen, to make child care more affordable and easier to find. Voters will be asked to approve an Early Childhood Service District to support:

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Investing in high-quality and accessible early childhood education now will improve the social, emotional, and academic outcomes for our children in the future while supporting the workforce in the valley today.

- Dr. Jennifer Baugh Superintendent, Garfield County School District 16

Childcare is a lifeline for families struggling to make ends meet. That's why we support taking this big step to alleviate this financial burden for working families and ensure that every child – regardless of where they live in the region – has access to the nurturing care they deserve.

- Esmeralda Zuniga Colorado River Valley Team

Early experiences from 0-5 shape the architecture of a child’s brain, laying the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and success. Investing in early childhood education and providing families with the resources and support they need ensures that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

- Focused Kids

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Thank you to our major donors for making this work possible!

Aspen Community Foundation

Buell Foundation

Caring for Colorado

Colorado River Valley Team

Early Milestones

MANAUS

Mountain Family Health Centers