The Impact of the Needs Based Childcare Scholarship Program in Park City and Summit County, One Year In

 The Needs-Based Child Care Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to families who live and work in Park City and Summit County. The program was started with a $1 million dollar investment from Park City Municipal and launched in January 2024. It later expanded in June 2024 when Summit County invested $485,000 towards childcare. Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance worked closely with the City and County to establish this program and is currently funding the administrative costs to ensure all public funds go directly to families. The program’s administrator, Upwards, has released an Impact Report covering the inaugural year and its impact on Park City and Summit County. In the first year, the program supported 125 families, 150 children, and 28 childcare providers. Survey results show that: 

• 79% of families reported significant relief from financial stress. 

• 60% of parents were able to select a childcare provider they could not have otherwise afforded. 

• 82% of participating childcare providers experienced increased enrollment. 

This transformative impact is evident in testimonials from families included in the report.   For some families, the scholarships meant being able to stay in Park City—something they thought was no longer possible. Others shared how the program helped them secure long-term housing or access better quality care. For many, it meant the ability to remain employed, pursue a promotion, or unlock greater financial opportunities for their families: 

• 60% of participants maintained continuous employment. 

• 32% rejoined the workforce. 

• 80% of unemployed participants found new jobs within three months. 

• 31% of parents reported the program helped them stay employed. 

• 44% of parents reported the ability to take on additional work hours. 

Read more in the Upwards impact report.   Every child deserves an equal opportunity to a quality education foundation that will prepare them to grow, learn, and succeed. Please join us in congratulating our city and county elected officials and dedicated staff for launching such an impactful program and encourage them to continue investing in our youngest community members and their families. You can email them at: council_mail@parkcity.org and countycouncil@summitcountyutah.gov