Challenges
Access, Scalability, Worker Issues
Location
Colorado
Stakeholders
Businesses, Nonprofits, State Government
Beneficiaries
Children, Parents
Overview
Key Impact Metrics
-
226
grants awarded in total across five stakeholder types—e.g., childcare providers, local government entities, institutions of higher education
-
$22.5M
of grant funding available
-
80%
of grantees solely rely on CIRLCE grants to sustain their projects
Problem
The COVID-19 pandemic created devastating challenges for Colorado's early childhood care sector. In the first few months of pandemic-related shutdowns, childcare enrollment dropped by half, nearly a quarter of the early childhood workforce had been laid off or furloughed, and 10% of providers had closed entirely. Many providers were already operating on tight financial margins before the pandemic, making recovery extremely difficult.
Solution
In response, in 2022, Colorado passed the Community Innovation and Resilience for Care and Learning Equity (CIRCLE) grants program, providing $22.5 million to childcare providers and other community, education, and government partners to pursue innovative solutions to challenges worsened by the pandemic. Specific grants range from $10,000 to $750,000. The grants sought to address a series of issues, including making childcare more affordable, fixing the gaps in infant and toddler care, supporting provider financial stability, enhancing workforce preparation, and promoting the healthy development of all children.
Results
- Beneficiary Impact75,000 children reached—ages 0-5 years
- Employee Impact120 grants to early care and education providers
- Financial Results$146,088 average grant amount awarded
Replication Tips
- Streamline grants: Fast-track applications and coordinate with city planning to speed build-out.
- Set clear criteria: Prioritize industries or regions with severe shortages.
- Provide an adequate timeline for grantees: One of the drawbacks of the CIRCLE program so far is that “the timeline for grantees, from application to completing projects, was very tight and put them at risk for not meeting their goals,” according to a report by the Colorado Department of Early Education. Therefore, any future projects should provide adequate timelines conducive to capabilities of beneficiaries.
