Vail, Colo., June 13, 2025 — The Vail Valley Foundation (VVF), through its Eagle River Valley Childcare nonprofit, is excited to announce that the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new early childhood education and development facility in Avon is set to take place on Monday, June 23. The ceremony will take place at the project site on East Beaver Creek Boulevard in the Village (at Avon). This milestone marks the beginning of construction of the much-needed childcare facility, which will be operated by Access Early Education Foundation.
The all-electric, 13,590 -square-foot facility will provide high-quality early childhood education and development for 165 children ages 0-5, combining open-market availability with an innovative employer-sponsored model. The project represents a partnership between the Town of Avon and the Vail Valley Foundation. Avon is leasing the land for 50 years for $1.00 and is providing a package of financial contributions and incentives worth an estimated $800,000. VVF is leading the fundraising and development efforts.
"It is rewarding to officially break ground on this transformative project that will help address the critical childcare shortage in our valley," said Mike Imhof, President of the Vail Valley Foundation. "After months of planning and collaboration with our partners, we are looking forward to bringing this vision to life. This facility will provide much-needed childcare options for working families and will deliver high-quality early childhood education to our community's youngest residents. We are deeply grateful for the vision and support of the Avon Town Council, and we express our gratitude to the many generous donors, foundations, and business partners who have helped ensure this project is possible."
“This project could not happen without the leadership and commitment of the Vail Valley Foundation,” said Avon Mayor Tamra N. Underwood. “We are extremely grateful for Avon’s collaboration with VVF and welcome this very important and much needed facility to our town.”
The facility, which was designed by Zehren and Associates and will be built by local company RA Nelson, is expected to be operational by fall 2026. Access Early Education Foundation will be the facility operator. Thanks to generous donations from Active Energies Solar and SolarStrap, the project will include progressive features such as photovoltaic solar panels and battery storage capacity. The project will also include a fund for tuition and staff housing assistance to ensure attraction and retention of qualified employees while providing accessibility for working families across varied income levels.
The groundbreaking ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. on June 23 and will include remarks from key stakeholders, a ceremonial turning of the soil, and refreshments.
For more information about the Avon Early Childhood Education and Development Center or to learn about ways to support this project, visit vvf.org.
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About the Vail Valley Foundation
The Vail Valley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit with a mission to provide leadership in arts, athletics, and education, and address community needs to enhance our valley as a place to live, work, and visit.
The organization's work in education is through YouthPower365, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation which provides programs from early childhood to college and career to help youth reach their full potential and support youth and families every step of the way. The VVF puts on several annual events including the GoPro Mountain Games, Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup races, Vail Dance Festival, and Bulleit Hot Summer Nights and Town of Eagle ShowDown Town free concert series. The organization manages the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Village and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, hosting over 150 events annually. The VVF also operates Eagle River Valley Childcare, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation focused on enhancing early childhood education and development services across the community. The first initiative in Avon is a partnership with the Town of Avon, with donations eligible for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC).
Vail Valley Foundation is grateful for our cornerstone partners: Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek Resort Company, GoPro, Nature Valley, Constellation Brands, CELSIUS, Diageo, Lifetime Home Remodeling, and Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate. To learn more, visit vvf.org.
