“Thanks to this program, I am able to go to work knowing my son is safe, loves his daycare center, and is learning so much. I don’t have to worry about him. This program provided me with assistance I couldn’t find elsewhere and so desperately needed, allowing me to pursue an exciting new position at work.”

Stephanie M., Customer Experience Specialist, Park City Resident

A Municipal Commitment to Child Care Access

Park City, a historic mining town turned tourism boomtown, is located in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. It has a year-round population of only 8,500 residents, yet it’s a bustling community that welcomes millions of visitors annually. Park City is also home to two world-class ski resorts and was the mountain host for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games and looks forward to being a host venue for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Park City Municipal prioritizes delivering essential services such as public safety and roadway maintenance, while also fostering economic sustainability to meet the needs of the community. Because of the increased service level necessary to make Park City run, the City is among the largest employers in the county.

With its success as a tourist destination, and its largely upscale housing stock being used as second homes, Park City has become a gradually less accessible place for essential employees to live. Regional growth has also made it even more difficult to attract employees by adding competition for labor. Among the expenditures for working families in Park City is child care – and the cost is trending further upward. Without access to a robust workforce, the Park City economy cannot thrive.

In addressing the community’s needs for child care, Park City Municipal considered an inclusive approach for the program that accounted for individuals contributing to the local economy and essential operations. “The goal of the program is to help those with the greatest need,” shares Michelle Downard, Resident Advocate, Park City Municipal.

Identifying the Need and Coming Together

The community voiced widespread and increasing concerns about child care. The lack of access to high-quality, affordable child care was forcing families to reconsider living or working in Park City.

The need was clear, and it was time for action. To guide their efforts, the Early Childhood Alliance of the Park City Community Foundation worked to quantify and better understand the demand. In partnership with Summit County, the Alliance developed a needs assessment to examine both access and affordability of child care.

In addition, while federal and Utah state funding had been available, the State of Utah Childcare Assistance Program appeared to be underutilized, and $1.16M in local federal funding was set to expire.

The 2023 Early Childcare and Education Survey had more than 700 respondents, of which, 63% cited child care issues affecting their employment in some way, and only 5% said it was easy to find quality, affordable child care. 66% of Park City residents and workers indicated paying more than 10% of their household income for care (well above the federal standard of 7%).

The City Council reviewed the Early Childhood Alliance’s Needs Assessment and held numerous discussions, which included local families and members of the Early Childhood Alliance. Equipped with qualitative and quantitative data, the Council took action. However, without a funding source, the City Council was faced with a difficult task. Ultimately, they unanimously agreed to delay various capital projects and pulled funds from the operational budget to dedicate $1M to child care.

Designing the Program

Understanding the impact $1M could have on the community, the City established a working group to propose a scholarship program with benefits for parents and providers. The financial support was strategically designed to support residents, workforce, Park City Municipal employees, and child care providers.  

The program is also designed to complement the ongoing support offered by the State of Utah. “It was clear that the State Program was underutilized. We wanted to encourage participating in that program so that it could complement our efforts while we also added an additional layer of support within Park City” said Park City Mayor Nann Worel. Eligible families must apply for both programs to maximize efficiency and support.

The Park City Needs-Based Childcare Scholarship Program launched on January 1, 2024. Since then, it has supported over 100 children.

Outcomes

Growing access — 100 children have enrolled since the program began in January 2024.

Increased awareness — use of the State of Utah Childcare Assistance Program has more than doubled since the launch of this program.

More conversation — It is mentioned during project development conversations, land use regulations, and philanthropic fundraising efforts.

It’s spreading — Summit County, where Park City is located, has now implemented the program, expanding the impact.

Challenges

Privacy: Some families have concerns with providing personal documents and financial information.  

Advice

“Go for it!” said Park City Mayor Nann Worel. “You have to take a leap of faith. This IS the right thing for us to be doing. Make a commitment and then figure out how to make it happen. Don’t wait.”

Don’t go it alone: The City quickly recognized it was not feasible to administer the program in-house without dedicated resources. They partnered with Upwards, a national child care network and technology company, to onboard providers, engage directly with families needing assistance and aid them through the process of applying and receiving their support.

Be part of the solution: Downard added, “We don’t have a perfect cure to address child care, but we are part of the effort. Be a part of the solution that’s best for your needs.”