Summit County child care scholarships deliver 325% return, support 162 families

Summit County’s child care scholarship programs generated $4.25 in measurable economic value for every $1 invested, a 325% return that local leaders say is helping families stay in the labor force in one of Utah’s most expensive housing markets. The second-year impact report put the total economic value at $6.61 million, a figure tied not just to lower child care bills but to the workforce stability employers need in Park City and across the Wasatch Back.

The programs served 162 families and 186 children through 32 care providers in Year 2, a 30% increase from the first year. Launched in Park City in January 2024 and expanded to Summit County in June 2024, the scholarships are available to households at or below 100% of Area Median Income, with help capped at $1,700 per month per child. Across the two-year period, public and private partners invested $1.56 million.

For families, the relief was immediate. Park City households paid an average of $823.07 per child per month in Year 2, while Summit County households paid $899.89. The report said 98% of families experienced cost relief and 65% moved into higher-quality care. Among surveyed families, 83% gained or maintained employment, 40% reduced work absences, 29% increased hours, 25% improved job stability and 8% earned promotions.

Those gains matter in a county where even one missed shift can ripple through local businesses. Child care shortages often force parents to cut hours or leave jobs entirely, and the report’s numbers suggest the scholarship program is helping employers hold onto workers instead of replacing them. The impact was not limited to parents. Providers reported that 83% increased or maintained enrollment, and every provider surveyed said payments and support were strong.

The program also helped families tap outside assistance. Year 2 participants accessed about $193,932 in Utah Department of Workforce Services subsidies through program coordination. Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance covered all administrative costs, allowing public dollars to go directly to families and providers instead of overhead.

Park City initially put $1 million into the effort, Summit County added $485,000, and the county previously set aside about $130,000 in early education funding to widen access beyond city limits. As housing costs and child care prices continue to squeeze local paychecks, the scholarship program has become less of a social service add-on and more of a workforce tool. If funding slows, the pressure would fall back on parents first, then on the employers trying to keep them on payroll.