Larimer Thrive
By Five

Larimer Thrive by Five was a public education campaign about the need for quality early care and education in our community. The campaign was a foundational element in Larimer Ballot Measure 1B getting approved by voters in November 2025. Learn more about next steps with Yes on 1B. And continue reading to learn more about the childcare crisis in Larimer County.

There are 6 underlying factors contributing to the childcare crisis in Larimer County:

Cost of living
Cost of childcare
Childcare shortages (demand vs. supply)
Low pay and benefits for early childhood workforce
Increase in population
Inadequate state and federal funding

Continue reading to learn more about each of the 6 underlying factors and the local solution we can move forward together here in Larimer County.

THE COST OF LIVING IN LARIMER COUNTY

The cost of living is 6.9% higher in Larimer County than the U.S. average.

The poverty level (of all people) is 11.1% in Larimer County, compared to 9.8% in Colorado and 12.8% across the US.

THE COST OF CHILDCARE IN LARIMER COUNTY

The average cost of care in Larimer County is $199-$324/week per child ($9,500-$15,500/year), depending on age.
A family in Larimer County, on average, spends between 11-35% of their income on childcare for one child (lower-income earners spend upwards of 40% of their income on childcare). The US Department of Human Services recommends childcare should not account for more than 7% of a family’s budget.
A single parent home with two children must make $42/hour to afford to live in Larimer County.
A two-parent household with both parents working needs to make a minimum of $23/hour each.
Colorado’s cost of center-based care for a toddler is the fifth highest in the US, coming in at roughly $16,000 annually.
The rising cost of childcare is outpacing inflation.

LARIMER COUNTY CHILDCARE SHORTAGES

There are significant gaps in care. It’s estimated that Larimer County needs at least another 3,572 spaces for children from birth to 24 months and another 4,069 spaces for those ages 2-5 years old to close the gap.
Based on 2019 estimates, licensed capacity for child care is only 25% of projected demand for infants and toddlers, and only 64% for preschool age children.

LOW PAY AND BENEFITS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS

Early childhood educators (ECE) make $16-$19/hour, on average.
The poverty rate is 15.1% for early childhood educators in Colorado. The poverty rate of early childhood educators is 8 times higher than that of K-8 teachers.
Child care centers would need to raise rates by 42% to pay a living wage to early childhood educators.
Early childhood teachers are in the bottom 2% of lowest paid occupations in the country.
70% of local child care program directors have difficulty finding qualified staff.

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PROJECTED POPULATION INCREASE IN LARIMER COUNTY

The state of Colorado predicts Larimer County’s population will increase by 37% within the next 25 years (by 2050).
The number of Colorado children under the age of 4 in Colorado is anticipated to increase by 22% by 2026.

STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING DOESN'T ADD UP

The federal government’s $24 million in childcare stabilization funding, which was part of the American Rescue Plan Act, expired on September 30, 2024 leaving many families and childcare providers uncertain for the future.
ABC NEWS’ feature, "America’s Child Care Crunch," outlines the childcare crisis on a national level and its impact on the economy.

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THE BENEFITS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES:

More than 1 in 10 parents turn down a position or promotion due to lack of childcare.
45,981 CO parents are making career sacrifices due to issues with child care.
67% of infants and toddlers have both parents in the workforce.
$8.3 billion in wages is lost by U.S. families each year due to lack of childcare.
Quality child care pays off by helping primary caregivers to establish careers and grow their income potential.
Access to quality, affordable childcare is a key contributor to adult mental health and economic stability.
Safe, stable families are more likely to raise healthy, thriving children.

THE BENEFITS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR OUR WORKFORCE:

1 out of 5 people in the workforce in Colorado are dependent on childcare in order to work.
16% of employers see employees leave due to childcare challenges.
16% of the US workforce—26.8 million people—are dependent on childcare in order to work (CO is closer to 20%).
Everyone depends on someone who depends on childcare and early education.
Childcare issues can affect work absences and can remove talented workers from the workforce.

10% of Colorado residents quit a job, didn’t take a job, or greatly changed their job because of childcare problems.
$3 billion is lost annually by U.S. businesses due to employee absenteeism resulting from childcare issues.
$680 million is lost annually by employers in CO; $31 million is lost annually in Larimer County (the opportunity cost of over 900 jobs).
Quality childcare for working parents increases earning and spending potential in our local economy.

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THE BENEFITS OF HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE:

Studies show that the earlier the investment in early childhood development, the greater the return.
- When children have early health and learning opportunities, starting from the prenatal period, there’s a 13% return on investment.
Early health interventions also lead to a decline in children developing a significant risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in life.
Every $1 spent on early childhood education contributes $2.25 to the state's economy by enabling parents to work.
Every $1 we invest in a child’s care and early education saves us $6.30 by the time this child is in their 30’s. That’s a 13% annual return.
The National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs has found that high quality early childhood programs can yield a $4–$9 dollar return per $1 invested.
Children with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have better long-term educational outcomes when they had participated in quality early childhood education.
Quality early childhood experiences and positive parent-child and teacher-child relationships reduce the incidence rate of ACEs. Fewer children with ACEs means less burden on public services in both the short and long term (kids with fewer ACEs are healthier, less likely to be incarcerated, less likely to have substance abuse issues, etc.).

Larimer County isn’t the first community to tackle the childcare crisis with local funding. Here’s a look at the other communities who we’re learning from: