It’s Time for Brighter Start

Brighter Start Boulder County is an initiative dedicated to strengthening our community by ensuring every child has access to affordable, high-quality early care and education.

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About
The Plan
Why Child Care Matters
Meet the Coalition
News & Updates
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Boulder County is Facing a Child Care Crisis

A young child with an adult outdoors near a green leafy background. The child is touching the adult's face, and they are engaged in a tender moment.

Boulder County families face annual child care costs exceeding $23,000 per child.

A group of young children and two women sitting on the floor in a classroom, engaging in a discussion or activity. The classroom has colorful decorations, toys, and educational materials.

Infant and toddler slots are dangerously scarce, leaving families with no care options and spending months on waitlists.

Multiple hands stacked together, symbolizing unity or teamwork, with individuals wearing colorful sweaters including pink, green, black, orange, blue, and brown, in a close-up shot.

Our early care educators are leaving due to unsustainable wages, and benefits.

Why Child Care Matters

The first five years of life are critical for brain development, shaping the foundation for learning, behavior, and long-term success. Access to high-quality early care supports school readiness, stronger academic outcomes, and lifelong well-being.

Child care is also essential infrastructure for our economy—enabling parents to work, supporting businesses, and strengthening communities. Without it, families, employers, and children all face lasting impacts.

Learn more here
A young child smiling and playing outside while at preschool covered in colorful paint on her face, arms, and shirt.

The Brighter Start Plan

We have developed a comprehensive plan to address the biggest issues facing child care. The Brighter Start Plan calls for:

  • Making Child Care Affordable for Families- Through direct financial support to families earning under $150,000—helping close the gap between what families can afford and the true cost of care.

  • Expanding Infant and Toddler Slots- Infant and toddler care is the most limited and hardest to find. By investing in the expansion of these critical slots, through facility improvements, program growth, and startup support, we will increase access where it is needed most.

  • Stabilizing Teacher and Provider Workforce- Early childhood educators are the backbone of our system, yet low wages and high turnover threaten its stability. Through targeted investments in compensation, professional development, and support systems, we will retain skilled educators, reduce turnover, and ensure consistent, high-quality care for children.

Read the full ECE Investment Plan here
FAQ
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Meet the Coalition

  • Logo of the Boulder County Early Childhood Council, featuring multicolored abstract human figures encircling the council's name.
  • Placeholder image with the text 'Join Us!'.
  • Longmont Community Foundation logo featuring mountains, a sun, sky, and grass with the organization's name.
  • Logo for Social Venture Partners Boulder County with the initials SVP inside a location pin, and text stating 'Social Venture Partners Boulder County' and 'Strong nonprofits, strong community'.

  • Aaron Brockett, City of Boulder Mayor

  • Adrian Fine

  • Allie Kallmann Wegner

  • Annmarie Jensen, Lafayette City Councilor

  • Bob Braudes

  • Burke Hilsabeck

  • Carolyn Adkins

  • Cassandra Barnhart

  • Charles Serns

  • Chris Coker, YMCA

  • Cindy O'keeffe, Social Venture Partners

  • Claire Levy, County Commissioner 

  • Danette Olinger

  • David Secunda

  • Debbie Pope, EFAA

  • Elizabeth Fannon, Aspen Center for Child Development

  • Elizabeth Lenski

  • Eric Hozempa, Longmont Community Foundation

  • Greta Maloney

  • Jake Marsing, Longmont City Councilor

  • Johnathan Singer

  • Josh Silberstein, Social Venture Partners

  • Kate Hise

  • Kaycee Headrick, Early Childhood Council of Boulder County

  • Leah Morley

  • Marc Cowell, OUR Center

  • Mary Henry

  • Mary Lynn Neiman

  • Matt Eldred, TLC Learning Center

  • Melanie Piazza

  • Nia Wassink

  • Nicole Crawford

  • Nicole Speer, Boulder City Councilor

  • Peter Dawson

  • Richard Garcia, Early Childhood Council Board Member

  • Sarah Alcorn Sharp

  • Soledad Diaz, YWCA Boulder County

  • Stephen LeFaiver, TEENS Inc.

  • Susan Moore

  • Suzanne Crawford, Sister Carmen Community Center

News & Updates

All news & updates

Be part of the change.

Join the Brighter Start Coalition by adding your information here.

Get in touch.