Summit County serves as a ski resort and mountain community that has historically struggled to provide the necessary services to support its workforce. From housing affordability to daycare availability, the community faces many challenges that have been accentuated over the past few years.
Silverthorne, however, is nothing if not admirable for recognizing and rallying around a need. In 2021 the town of Silverthorne and Summit County partnered to develop a new early childhood center located in the workforce housing development, Smith Ranch, in Silverthorne, CO. The goal was to try to satisfy the need for childcare and release caregivers to become more active in the local economy. This project, opening in the fall of 2023, may not satisfy the demand for childcare in its entirety, but it is certainly a big step in the right direction.