Child care investment pays off: $4.25 back for every dollar, report finds

Photo: BBC Creative

Park City and Summit County program expands reach in Year 2, with employment and enrollment gains

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — A child care scholarship program launched in Park City in 2024 and later expanded across Summit County is delivering significant returns for families, employers, and the broader local economy, according to a new impact report released Wednesday by Upwards.

The report found the program served 162 families and 186 children through 30 licensed providers in its second year, a 30% increase over Year 1. The community saw $4.25 in measurable economic value for every dollar invested, representing a 325% return on the program’s cumulative $1.56 million investment over two years, the report said.

The new numbers build on a program TownLift first reported on in December 2023, when Park City Municipal and Upwards announced a partnership to help fund child care for local families beginning Jan. 1, 2024. TownLift reported in June 2024 that Summit County expanded the effort countywide as a joint initiative among the county, the city, and Upwards.

The program provides financial assistance to qualifying families earning at or below 100% of the area median income, with subsidies capped at $1,700 per child each month. In Year 2, Park City families averaged $823.07 per child per month in support, while Summit County families averaged $899.89. The Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance absorbs administrative costs so public dollars go directly to families and providers, the report said.

Survey results point to both household relief and gains in child development. Upwards said 98% of families reported cost relief, and 65% said they gained access to higher-quality care. Parents reported progress in their children’s speech, social-emotional skills, language learning, and cognitive development. Among providers, 83% reported increasing or maintaining enrollment, and all reported satisfaction with payments and support.

The report also linked the scholarships to workforce stability. It said 83% of surveyed families gained or maintained employment, while others used the support to pursue education, self-employment, seasonal work, or a return to the workforce. Among participating families, 40% reported fewer missed workdays, 29% increased their work hours, 25% improved their job stability, and 8% earned promotions.

Upwards estimated that those outcomes generated $6.61 million in economic value, including $2.63 million in sustained family earnings, $3.98 million in avoided turnover costs for employers, and $33,930 in productivity gains. Participants also accessed about $193,932 in state Department of Workforce Services subsidies through program coordination, the report said.

“For many local families and members of our workforce, the lack of affordable child care is a major driver of economic instability,” Park City Mayor Ryan Dickey said in a statement. “This report shows that the council’s commitment is making a meaningful difference for those who need it most.”

Summit County Council Chair Canice Harte said the results reflect a broader community investment.

“To see 162 families with greater stability, better employment outcomes, and children thriving is exactly what we hoped for when we launched this program,” Harte said in the release. “Summit County’s investment in child care is an investment in our community as a whole.”

TownLift has previously documented the program’s evolution from local launch to broader recognition. In March 2025, TownLift reported the program was saving participating families hundreds of dollars a month while boosting employment outcomes. In January 2026, TownLift reported that Park City had been selected for the National League of Cities’ Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab, a national learning cohort tied to strengthening early childhood support systems.

PBS Utah featured the initiative in June 2025, and Park City was selected as one of 16 municipalities nationwide for the Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab, which launched in February 2026.

The report argues that the program has strengthened workforce retention across the hospitality, tourism, and service sectors that are central to the Park City and Summit County economy.