Commissioners direct RFP for childcare scholarship program and approve small lodging‑tax investments

Clear Creek County commissioners on June 17 directed staff to issue a request for proposals to find an administrator for a county‑funded childcare scholarship program and discussed related lodging‑tax investments to expand local childcare capacity.

Background and request The county’s non‑marketing lodging tax balance available for childcare was reported at $137,741. Staff presented four suggested investments: (1) a scholarship program with a county request of $81,600 to be matched and administered by an outside fiscal agent; (2) a $5,000 contribution toward a workforce development plan being led by the Schools Foundation and partners; (3) a small “after‑school snacks” mini grant (roughly $5,971) that staff proposed using only if Collaborative Management Program (CMP) funds were not available; and (4) small grants to support exempt (family‑friend‑neighbor) providers (total $2,800; $350 per provider, up to four providers).

RFP and administration Commissioners authorized staff to issue an RFP to select an entity to receive and distribute the scholarship funds. Staff explained the RFP would identify an entity to act as the fiscal and administrative agent; the county would write a single contract/check to that entity. Commissioner discussion focused on preserving county oversight while enabling a partner organization to accept and manage donations, contracts with multiple providers, and administrative responsibilities. County staff asked the board to ensure Human Services representation on the selection committee and noted previous practice allowed a small administrative fee (Schools Foundation previously received up to 1.5% of funds for administration).

Equity and eligibility Commissioners and staff discussed using a sliding scale for scholarships that prioritizes households with the greatest need. Staff cautioned that Clear Creek County’s workforce incomes differ from resident incomes and that scoring criteria should be carefully designed to avoid unintended exclusions. Commissioners directed staff to work with EECL (Early Childhood Leadership group), Human Services and other stakeholders on eligibility and scoring language to appear in the RFP.

Other investments and contingencies - Workforce plan: The Schools Foundation is soliciting outside funds and asked jurisdictions to contribute a nominal $5,000 as a demonstration of local support; commissioners indicated tentative support. - CMP mini‑grant: Commissioners agreed to authorize the small after‑school snack grant from lodging tax funds only if CMP incentive funds are unavailable. - Exempt provider grants: Minor grants to help family‑friend‑neighbor providers meet background checks (TRAILS) and basic start‑up costs were discussed and a small pool ($2,800 total) earmarked in the proposal.

Why it matters: The county faces a childcare capacity shortage and workforce constraints. Commissioners sought a balance between prompt, local assistance this year and building an administrator‑led program that can grow with municipal and private partner contributions.

Next steps: Staff will draft and release an RFP for an administrator to distribute scholarship funds based on EECL recommendations, with Human Services participation in the selection process. The board set an expectation of iterative refinements and further budget consideration for FY2026.

Ending: Commissioners said they would continue to iterate the scholarship and workforce proposals, with implementation details and reporting to follow once an administrative partner is selected.