Park City foundation urges Summit County to pilot scholarships, employer match to ease child‑care gap

Kristen (Park City Community Foundation) returned to the Summit County Council on Nov. 29 to ask the county to help plug immediate gaps in local child care by seeding two pilot programs: a $130,000 scholarship fund aimed at households at or below 65% of area median income and a $200,000 employer‑match pool modeled on Michigan’s tri‑share approach. The Foundation also offered up to $50,000 to cover administrative costs if the county partners with an existing administrator.

The presenters said the private market is failing many low‑ and middle‑income families, federal subsidies have decreased, and local providers and parents are reporting urgent needs. The proposed scholarship would top up federal subsidies where families fall just above eligibility limits; the employer match would require employers to contribute alongside families and county funds to stretch public dollars further.

Council members asked how the match program would be targeted, whether small employers would participate and how funds would be allocated if demand exceeded supply. Several members said they support the concept but emphasized the county’s tight 2024 budget and asked staff to model one‑time versus ongoing spending and possible offsets. One councilor suggested piloting the employer match at a modest scale and using the Foundation’s offer to cover administration to limit county risk.

Staff said Park City has an administrator under consideration and the county could either contract that firm or design its own program. The council asked staff to return during the budget process with concrete options and costs for how to incorporate one‑time pilot funding or a sustained program.

The council did not approve new funding on Nov. 29; members asked staff to produce budget scenarios and consider an employer‑coordinating task force that would include local resorts, health systems and chambers of commerce to increase buy‑in.

The county manager plans to circulate budget options before the next public meeting so members can weigh tradeoffs.