Congresswoman Pettersen Delivers Community Funding Jackpot
Rick Langenberg
Thanksgiving came a little early this year for the city of Cripple Creek, southern Teller County and proponents of the area’s first-stage push for a mega, $5 million-plus childcare center, thanks largely to the efforts made by a local congresswoman.
The only question remaining: When will “A Place for Kids,” dubbed as the dream community project for the region, open for business and take in their first child.
In a surprising development by even project cheerleaders, the city of Cripple Creek, the fiscal agents for the childcare endeavor, were informed by congressional officials last week that it will receive a $1.015 million grant to assist with the construction of the childcare center. The project, which will encompass a full-fledged five-day a week childcare hub in its initial stage, is slated for completion at the end of 2026, with an official opening scheduled for early 2027. The grant was orchestrated by Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, (who represents Colorado’s 7th congressional district, which includes Teller County),and is part of community funding legislation that initially targeted 15 projects throughout the district.
With this forthcoming grant, the stage is definitely set for the popular project, located next to the Aspen Mine Center West facility, across from the courthouse, to hit paydirt and to become a definite reality for southern Teller. Altogether, Community of Caring, the main group spearheading the effort, has now netted more than $3 million in grants and donations for “A Place for Kids.” The first stage of A Place for Kids, which will be equipped to handle close to 60 kids at one time and encompass about 7,000-square-feet, is expected to cost approximately $2.5 million to construct, based on earlier estimates.
Cripple Creek and Community of Caring officials were elated over the news but cautioned that a number of steps have to occur, prior to the city getting the daycare facility construction money. And even if the funds arrive quickly, the community still faces the hurdle of building a fairly large, ambitious facility on “Cripple Creek time,” a timetable that often eludes many contractors. Initial construction bids were well above the maximum amount allowed by the city.
Nevertheless, A Place for Kids proponents are waving a big victory flag. “This is a huge win for us,” said Lisa Noble, fundraising and development director for the Community of Caring Foundation and Aspen Mine Centers. “We were very optimistic about this grant but really weren’t sure it would come this soon.”
More importantly, she sees this as conveying an important message due to the support of Congresswoman Pettersen and the city of Cripple Creek: “This project is going to happen.”
Similar sentiments were voiced by Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham. “This brings us one step closer to the finish line,” said Durham. “I am very excited.” According to the mayor, the city is on the upswing with a series of positive developments, capped by voter approval of a home rule charter commission and now a substantial grant that will move the childcare effort forward. “We are on a lucky streak,” quipped Durham, who admitted some surprise with the recent funding news. She described the “A Place for Kids” venture as one of the most popular community projects undertaken in recent years
City Administrator Frank Salvato also labeled the grant update as extremely good news. But in a cautionary note, he explained that it’s not a sure thing that Cripple Creek will get the money tomorrow. He said the grant does have conditions as is part of an award by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) agency, with the funds being handled through their Colorado Rural Development office. As a result, he cited a review process that is involved with the grant allocation.
Still, he remained quite optimistic about the grant award, and he also admitted some surprise that the award occurred so soon after the grant request was submitted.
Officials also admit they had their doubts about this package with the current infighting on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. and the ongoing furor over the longest government shutdown in the history of the country.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Durham.
Congresswoman Pettersen, a Democrat, has been a big ally of this community project, but hasn’t stopped short of heavily criticizing President Donald Trump for his reported efforts to do away with the Obamacare tax credits and for other aspects of his “Big Beautiful” funding bill. Pettersen held a community forum last summer in Woodland Park, in a meeting that attracted a huge crowd, and cited the childcare facility and other community endeavors as ones she was lobbying for in the appropriations process.
According to Noble, the money must be used for the construction of the facility and not for project operations.
Questions Still Persist Over Facility Operations
The operations side of A Place for Kids is still the thorny side of the community’s childcare push.
In an earlier presentation before the council, Kathryn Perry, the financial and lending officer for Park State Bank & Trust, lauded the project leaders for their success in landing major grants for the facility, but questioned the lack of key stakeholders, other than the Community of Caring and the city of Cripple Creek. She encouraged Community of Caring to garner more support from the gaming industry. She cited the need for a more comprehensive business plan.
Project leaders, though, maintain they have a variety of business models in place, but can’t release specific detail, while grant funding efforts are still being pursued.
The biggest obstacle facing center proponents could deal with difficult building environment in Cripple Creek for projects of this caliber. Contractors must deal with weather and altitude challenges, obstacles that delay many commercial projects.
Salvato noted that the early construction bids the city has received are well above the budgeted price tag. As a result, he suggested to the council at is recent meeting that it reject all bids solicited so far. It’s not clear if this will impact the proposed opening day for A Place for Kids.
The city council has held a variety of closed-door session on this issue. The city administrator also met with the Community of Caring board early last week.
Despite different scenarios on the time clock for the facility’s opening day, the project has received strong support from all segments of the community. “We are in the process of building a major asset for the community,” said Mary Bielz, the chairperson of the Community of Caring board, in an earlier interview.” It is not an overnight thing. This is Community of Caring’s project, but it is going to take the whole community to help make this miracle happen.”
