EPIC is a group of prestigious business executives partnering to invest in children. As leaders in their companies and industries, our Members are leaving a legacy of true impact and lasting change.
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Need help developing ideas or implementing new workforce supports? EPIC offers consulting services to employers and community organizations for specialized projects related to child care initiatives and project implementation.
Past projects include working with employers to implement new child care incentives during open enrollment and supporting the successful design, regulatory approval, and launch of on-site child care services for employees.
COLORADO TAX CREDIT
Did you know in Colorado individuals and businesses can claim a 50% state income tax credit for qualified contributions to child care providers up to $200,000?
Colorado leads the nation in providing a tax-advantaged tool for child care through the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC) used to:
BUILDING UP INITIATIVE
To reverse the trend of child care program closures and the disappearance of child care slots across Colorado, we are taking action to change the child care business model in a way that supports a healthy, sustainable bottom line while ensuring high quality early learning experiences for children and the ability for families to work.
Working to decrease the expenses and increase access to start-up capital and revenues will allow businesses to meet their workforce needs by providing quality child care and long-term early learning services.
Affordable & Secure Real Estate
Capital Financing & Fund Development
Regulatory Alignment & Innovation
We are inviting business leaders from real estate development, homebuilding, finance, construction and other industries along with philanthropic, governmental, non-profit partners and child care business operators working within the sector to join us to create innovative solutions that will improve access to affordable, high quality child care and early learning.
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON
COVID-19 shined a spotlight on the fragility of the early care and education sector. With the risk of the pandemic decimating entire industries, we consulted and helped coordinate, and navigate for COVID response entities such as the Colorado Emergency Child Care Collaborative and the Keep the Lights On Fund.
The EPIC team helped alleviate supply chain issues for child care business owners by convening partners at The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Mile High United Way and other organizations to fund and coordinate the purchase and distribution of over $170,000 in cleaning and sanitation supplies.
To meet this critical need, a public-private partnership effort was established with the goal of providing 1) cleaning supplies and 2) direct financial assistance to licensed family child care homes, centers, and school-age programs statewide, and thus “keep the lights on”.
It takes all of us – nonprofits, philanthropy, government, and business leaders – to help stabilize these vital small businesses and reduce further closures. To get involved or learn more please visit Mile High United Way.
EPIC has championed and contributed to the passage of successful legislation in Colorado that led to the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC), Funding for Full-day Kindergarten and Universal Preschool.
We are actively advocating for:
We invite policy makers, legislators, lobbyists, and advocates — those who support families and economic growth – to join our cause, advance policies and build infrastructure that supports the workforce of today while developing the workforce of tomorrow.
PROPOSITION EE
EPIC supported Proposition EE, which appeared on the November 2020 ballot. More than two thirds of Coloradoans voted in support of this legislation. Proposition EE will tax tobacco and vaping products to boost public health, support public K-12 schools, and provide universal preschool in Colorado. Proposition EE is a win-win-win for Colorado. List your organization in our Business Community Priorities for Early Education to further support this initiative.
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES AS RESIDENCES
Ensuring the workforce has access to quality, safe, and affordable child care is critical to ensuring equitable supports for children and families in addition to our economic recovery from this pandemic. We also know many workers in health care and other service industries rely on family child care homes to provide care for their children given their shift schedules and frequent need for evening, weekend, and extended hour care.
This bill aligns fragmented and burdensome regulations simply by requiring local regulatory entities to treat family childcare homes (FCCH) as residences for regulatory purposes such as zoning, fire, life safety, and building codes. Given that state licensing regulations already require FCCHs to meet comprehensive health and safety standards to ensure the wellbeing of all children in care, this change will prevent additional or conflicting regulations from being placed on FCCH providers above state licensing requirements. In doing so, the legislature can help increase the availability of quality affordable childcare within communities throughout Colorado and boost the economy by enabling working families to maintain employment.
What People
