PBS Utah highlights Park City’s Childcare Scholarship Program

Photo: Screenshot from PBS

PARK CITY, Utah — In a recent feature, PBS Utah highlighted Park City’s Childcare Scholarship Program, which has received national accolades and recognition. The segment explores how the City’s new program is helping local families afford childcare while supporting a growing workforce and community. 

The Childcare Scholarship Program was officially launched in 2024 as a collaboration between Park City Municipal, the childcare company Upwards, and Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance to provide tuition assistance directly to local working families based on their needs. The program currently serves over 100 families locally. 

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“This is a program built after listening to our community, understanding working families’ needs, and taking a bit of a leap of faith,” said Mayor Nann Worel in a press release. “We’re proud to be leading the way on childcare in Utah — and grateful to see our efforts recognized by PBS and national partners alike.” 

Earlier this year, the program gained national recognition when the Mayor Worel was invited by Moms First to present at Child Care Hill Day in Washington, D.C. There, she joined national leaders in advocating for sustainable childcare solutions. 

In May, Park City’s program director Michelle Downard, presented the program as a best-practice case study at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leads Fellowship Program Master Class. 

After running for just one year, Upwards completed an impact report that estimates the program will provide a $4.64 million boost to the local economy. The hope is that working parents will be able to more easily secure employment due to reliable childcare, thereby increasing work hours and productivity and reducing costs associated with employee turnover. 

The PBS Utah segment showcases three families, two of which participate in and expressed gratitude for the program.