United Way of Larimer County is accepting applications from childcare providers and nonprofit agencies on behalf of families who qualify for the Larimer County Childcare Fund. Larimer County approved the distribution of $300,000 of Coronavirus Relief Funds, to be spent by December 30, 2020, to support families who have childcare needs and who have been negatively affected by COVID-19.

“We are grateful for this partnership with the County to alleviate some of the COVID burden on families in our community. These funds amplify the United Way of Larimer County’s prior commitment to increasing access to childcare. With the loss of in-person schooling, additional restrictions on childcare providers, and other factors related to the pandemic, every dollar invested will have returns for children, families, and our economy,” says to Deirdre Sullivan, President and CEO of United Way of Larimer County.

For families interested in requesting funding, the parent/guardian of a child must meet all of the following criteria and work with their childcare provider to apply for funds on their behalf:

• Larimer County resident with children ages 0 – 5 who is an essential employee during COVID-19 response, or actively looking for employment due to COVID-19 impacts to their previous work
• Larimer County resident with children ages 6-12 who has been impacted by the absence of in-person school during working hours
• Seeking care from a licensed (ages 0-5) childcare provider, Neighborhood Youth Organization, or nonprofit community organization (non-religious in nature) who offers childcare, activities, and/or enrichment programming to children ages 6-12 and is located in Larimer County
• Household income less than the most recently published self-sufficiency wage for Larimer County (2020 Self-Sufficiency Standards by County)
• Single parents who are interested in a childcare scholarship to pursue vocational education or higher education should apply to the United Way WomenGive Scholarship Program
• A portion of these funds will support financial assistance to families at licensed home providers and available through the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County

“COVID has exacerbated an existing crisis in the early care and education field,” says Christina Taylor, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County. “These funds will be put to immediate use to support families and providers and strengthen community partnerships for long-term solutions to address the role of early care and education as well as out of school care in our community’s social and economic health.”

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are awarded. Funds will be awarded to providers on a first-come, first-served basis. The Childcare Fund will increase the number of families making low-to-moderate incomes who can access high-quality care by closing the gap between a family’s ability to pay and the amount charged by a provider. In addition to scholarship funds, nonprofit providers can apply for general operating support to partially reimburse child care programs for additional costs incurred as a result of COVID-19, as we recognize that remaining open to support families required many adjustments and investments.

Childcare costs are often referred to as a family’s “second mortgage.” A 2020 study of 2019 childcare rates found the average monthly cost of licensed care in a childcare center to be $1,124, nearly one-third of the average family’s take-home pay.

The Larimer County Childcare Fund allows parents to choose the licensed childcare setting of their choice. Given the flexibility of the Colorado Childcare Contribution Tax Credit policy, tax-deductible contributions made to the fund may be distributed to public, private, or nonprofit providers.

Visit www.uwaylc.org/ChildcareFund to learn more about the Larimer County Childcare Fund, including how to apply, ways to give, and more.

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