Workforce Solutions Borderplex and planning consultant Able City presented an ARPA‑funded feasibility study to the El Paso County Commissioners Court on Jan. 23 that concluded a downtown childcare facility is feasible and that one county‑owned property adjacent to Paisano could accommodate roughly 91–93 children using converted parking for an outdoor play area.

Leila Melendez, chief executive officer of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, said Workforce Solutions currently pays for childcare for more than 5,700 children daily through subsidies that allow nearly 4,000 parents to work. Melendez said the downtown area qualifies as a childcare desert and that proximity to work helps retention for many parents, particularly service-sector and hospitality employees who work downtown.

Carlos Gaignard of Able City summarized the study’s public engagement and technical analysis. He said the team surveyed downtown workers and found strong interest: among respondents with children, about 85% said they work downtown and 85% said they would be interested in a childcare location within walking distance. Able City evaluated nine candidate sites and recommended a county‑owned building on Paisano as the preferred location because it is in the government district, serves both Segundo Barrio and the central business district, and offers convertible parking for outdoor space. Space‑planning calculations (30 square feet indoor per child; 80 square feet outdoor per child per state rules) led the team to program the site for about 91–93 children.

Committee members and commissioners raised practical issues: whether parking could be relocated to nearby garages, whether daycare operators or private partners would manage the facility, and how Workforce Solutions could use subsidy slots to serve downtown employees. Melendez said Workforce Solutions can convene partners and that the state has matching and capacity grants that could help staff a center and expand slots.

Commissioners expressed strong support. Commissioner Stout said the project aligns with county economic‑mobility goals and noted the county’s prior efforts with NACO cohorts and state programs. Judge Samaniego asked the presenters to continue coordination with county staff. The court confirmed on the record it was in agreement for county staff to continue working with Workforce Solutions to identify next steps and partners.

Ending: County staff will continue staff‑level work with Workforce Solutions and Able City to flesh out partners, funding options and a possible implementation timeline; no formal funding commitment was made at the Jan. 23 presentation.