Workforce Housing and Childcare
The Town utilizes a variety of funding sources to address workforce and childcare in the Estes Valley, including revenues from the Lodging Tax Extension (local ballot measure 6E passed in November 2022). In addition to the Lodging Tax Extension revenue, revenues from the Impact Fee associated with Short Term Rentals, the Town's Workforce Housing reserve fund, and various grants and other financial awards from the State and Federal governments are used to address workforce and attainable housing.
6E Lodging Tax Revenue
In November 2022, the Town of Estes Park citizens voted to approve Ballot Issue 6E to increase the Lodging Taxes throughout the Estes Valley by 3.5%. The funds received by the Local Marketing District, Visit Estes Park are transferred to the Town of Estes Park to address workforce housing and childcare issues. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in July 2023 with the Estes Park Housing Authority to oversee the distribution of 6E revenue to address workforce housing.
Annually, the Estes Park Town Board, Larimer County Board of County Commissioners, and Visit Estes Park approve the funding plan that outlines the priorities and use of tax dollars to address childcare and workforce housing issues.
2025 Annual 6E Lodging Tax Fund Plan
2025 6E Funding Plan Slide Deck
2026 Annual 6E Lodging Tax Funding Outreach Begins SOON!
The Town of Estes Park and the Estes Park Housing Authority conduct annual stakeholder outreach and public presentations in preparation for drafting the following year's Annual Funding Plan.
If you are a key stakeholder, please reach out to cbangs@estes.org or smoulton@estes.org to participate in our invitation-only small group virtual meeting.
Community Feedback Form (open July 1- August 1, 2025)
Proposed 2026 Annual Funding Plan Presentation
August 4, 2025 location TBD, noon-1:30 pm (lunch included)
Aug 5, 2025 location TBD, 6-7:30 pm
August 12, 2025 (Town Board Study Session) Town Board Room, time TBD
August 28, 2025 (VEP Board Meeting) Virtual Meeting, 2:00 pm
More Information
For more information about Housing and Childcare, please contact the Housing and Childcare Manager, Carlie Bangs at 970-577-3894 or cbangs@estes.org.
The Town of Estes Park offers a variety of funding opportunities to support childcare providers and early childhood professionals in the Estes Valley. These programs are based on data and strategies presented in the 2024 Childcare Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan and the 6E Annual Workforce Housing and Childcare Funding Plan for Lodging (6E) Funds (2025 Plan).
6E Funds are allocated to four key priority areas to address the childcare challenges, including childcare tuition assistance programs, expanding out-of-school (school-age) programming, early childhood workforce recruitment and retention, and increasing capacity through facilities and capital expenditures.
Tuition Assistance
For the third year in a row, the Estes Park Town Board has voted in favor of funding tuition assistance by awarding EVICS Family Resource Center with 6E funds. EVICS Family Resource Center has administered tuition assistance since 2006 to Estes Valley families and has stepped in to support families since the Colorado Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP) enrollment was frozen in February 2024.
Eligible families are encouraged to get on the waitlist for CCAP, and can apply for assistance through EVICS Family Resource Center.
Additional financial assistance programs can be found through the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County, including Universal Preschool and the Larimer Child Care Fund.
Childcare Assistance Fund Grant
Licensed, or working to be licensed, home and center-based childcare providers may apply for grant funding for both capital and non-capital projects.
Childcare Funding Guidelines and Application
Annual Workforce Subsidy
The 2024 Childcare Workforce Subsidy application will be open soon!
The application is open from March-May annually. This subsidy is available for licensed home and center-based childcare providers in the Park R-3 School District and is based on the size and quality rating of the center.
Reporting is required by all Childcare Workforce Subsidy recipients as outlined in your Childcare Funding Agreement.
For inquiries regarding eligibility, application support, and availability of funds, please contact Carlie Speedlin Bangs, Housing and Childcare Manager, at cbangs@estes.org.
The Town of Estes Park offers a variety of funding opportunities to support childcare providers and early childhood professionals in the Estes Valley. These funding programs were established as tools to stabilize the current childcare landscape in the Estes Valley, and are based on data and strategies presented in the 2024 Childcare Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan and the 6E Annual Workforce Housing and Childcare Funding Plan for Lodging (6E) Funds (2025 Plan)
6E Funds are allocated to four key priority areas to address the childcare challenges, including childcare tuition assistance programs, expanding out-of-school (school-age) programming, early childhood workforce recruitment and retention, and increasing capacity through facilities and capital expenditures.
Town Policy 225: Childcare Funding Guidelines (available in Spanish soon)
Exhibit A: Childcare Stability Application
Exhibit B: Childcare Assistance Application
Currently Open Funding Opportunities
Review the Priority Grant Framework and Program Descriptions prior to applying for funds. Assistance with translation or filling out the applications is available. Please contact the Housing and Childcare Manager for more information at cbangs@estes.org.
Childcare Facility and Capital Funding Grant
Description
Out-of-School Program Grant
Description
Opens July 1 for School-year Programs operating May 2025 through August 2026
Childcare Stability Initiative
The Childcare Stability Initiative will take the place of the Annual Early Childhood Workforce Subsidy in 2026. Applications are due July 1, 2025 with distribution in January 2026. Funding is approved through the annual budget approval process and with approval of the Annual 6E Funding Plan.
Late applications will not be accepted.
For inquiries regarding eligibility, application support or language translation, and availability of funds, please contact Carlie Speedlin Bangs, Housing and Childcare Manager, at cbangs@estes.org
Childcare is an essential infrastructure for working families in the Estes Valley. By passing the 6E Ballot initiative, the Town understands the desire from its community families and business owners to provide accessible and affordable childcare to the workforce.
An Early Childhood Navigator is available to assist families with children under the age of five at our partnering non-profit agency EVICS Family Resource Center.
Direct assistance to resources such as food, shelter, mental health, or financial assistance can be accessed through Crossroads Ministry.
Looking for school-age programming?
Larimer County Boys and Girls Club- Estes Park
- Boys and Girls Club provides care for school-age children after school during the school year and during the summer months.
Estes Valley Recreation and Park District
- The Estes Valley Recreation and Park District offers after-school programming for children enrolled in Park Place Preschool, or children attending kindergarten through 2nd grade at Estes Park Elementary School.
- They also provide "Bobcat Camp" for Estes Park School District students on some Teacher PD Days.
Childcare Tuition Assistance
The Town of Estes Park has allocated significant 6E Lodging Tax revenue to support the affordability of childcare by distributing over $250,000 since 2023 directly to working Estes Valley families.
In 2025, the Town established a new assistance program to provide financial assistance to families who have higher incomes than existing tuition assistance programs available to Estes families.
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
Enrollment has been frozen since February 2024, however, we require that financially eligible families apply for CCCAP and get on the waitlist prior to applying for other assistance programs.
EVICS Childcare Tuition Assistance
For the third year in a row, the Estes Park Town Board has voted in favor of funding tuition assistance by awarding EVICS Family Resource Center with 6E Lodging Tax funds. EVICS Family Resource Center has historically provided emergency financial assistance, but has stepped in during the CCCAP freeze to provide additional assistance to the community.
During the CCCAP freeze, please apply for assistance through EVICS after submitting your CCCAP application.
Estes Valley Childcare Fund (EVCF)
New to the Estes Valley this summer, the Estes Valley Childcare Fund (EVCF) is a program created by the Town of Estes Park, aligned with the Larimer Childcare Fund (LCCF) to help families access childcare by providing assistance to middle-income working households.
EVCF is available to families with children 0-5 years old who are enrolled in childcare, or will be enrolled by September 15, 2025. Families are enrolled for one year, or until July 2026, whichever comes first.
Sign up for email updates, or ask your childcare provider for a pre-screening form.
Contact EVCF@ECCLC.org for more information or assistance with your application.
Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK)
All children in Colorado can apply for up to 15 hours per week of free, high-quality preschool in the year before kindergarten through Colorado's Universal Preschool Program.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in July 2023 with the Estes Park Housing Authority to oversee the distribution of 6E revenue to address workforce housing. The use of funds for workforce housing initiatives is outlined annually in the 6E Annual Funding Plan.
2023 Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan
Estes Park Housing Authority
Estes Park Housing Authority offers many programs for community members of low to moderate incomes in the Estes Valley. The Town of Estes Park entered into an MOU with the organization in July 2023 to transfer 6E Lodging Tax funds from the Town of Estes Park to the Estes Park Housing Authority to address workforce housing issues in the valley.
Estes Park Housing Authority is located at 363 East Elkhorn Avenue, Suite 101, Estes Park, CO 80517
Contact Estes Park Housing Authority at EPHA@estes.org or (970) 591-2535
Workforce Rental Assistance
There is a collaborative effort between the Town, Estes Park Housing Authority, and non-profit stakeholders to make housing more affordable for all. As an expansion of the existing housing assistance program at Crossroads Ministry, 6E Lodging Tax revenue supports middle-income working households in the Estes Valley.
To inquire about eligibility and apply for rental assistance, please contact Crossroads Ministry. Begin the application process.
Workforce Housing Development Incentives
The Town of Estes Park seeks to support the development of workforce housing through waivers and incentives in its Policies and Development Code.
Policy 402: Equity Fee and Fee Waiver were established to reduce fees in support of essential community needs as identified in the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 227: Workforce and Attainable Housing Funding Guidelines define workforce and attainable housing for the Town’s purposes, articulate the Town’s workforce housing goals and role related to workforce housing, and establish a funding mechanism to advance the Town’s workforce housing goals.
Estes Park Development Code: Chapter 11.4- Attainable/Workforce Housing Density Bonus was created to incentivize to development of attainable and workforce housing for people living and/or working in Estes Park.
The Town of Estes Park, with Estes Park Housing Authority acting as the developer, currently have two properties in predevelopment:
Fish Hatchery Neighborhood
- Proposed workforce and attainable housing neighborhood
- Background about the development of workforce housing at the Fish Hatchery property
- Updates on predevelopment work with EPHA
- Email fishhatchery@estes.org to request information or be added to the mailing list for updates!
179 Stanley Circle Drive
- Proposed Town-employee housing
- Neighborhood meeting for rezoning application occurred on Thursday, November 14 at 5:00 (at 179 Stanley Circle Drive)
Town-owned Childcare Facility
The Town purchased property at 1250 Woodstock in 2024 to preserve existing childcare services offered at that facility. Mountaintop Childcare Inc. continues to run childcare services from that facility. A long-term childcare facilities plan is underway to project the future need for childcare facilities and the Town's role in owning, leasing, maintaining, and managing childcare facilities in the Estes Valley.
6E Lodging Tax Resources
- Local Marketing District: Visit Estes Park
- "The Tax You Don't Pay" Campaign
- House Bill 1117 Framework
- 2025 Workforce Housing and Childcare Funding Plan
- 2024 Workforce Housing and Childcare Funding Plan
- 2023 Financial Report
Town of Estes Park
- Town Annual Strategic Plan
- Estes Park's Annual National Community Survey
- Workforce Housing and Childcare Ad-Hoc Task Force Final Report (2019)
- Family Advisory Board recommendations to Town Board (2018)