Samuel Clark, a leader from the Pikes Peak Real Estate Foundation argues that childcare near home or work drives where people choose to live and lease. Tenants stay even when rents go up, and parents keep showing up to work, even in a snowstorm, when care is next door.

The Foundation believes real estate is the tool for building the community people want, starting with the downtown assets that make it the heart of Colorado Springs. Childcare centers help keep skilled workers in their jobs through the early years of parenthood. They also shape the future workforce: studies from Michigan, Chicago, and North Carolina show that children who get quality early care are more likely to finish college and own a home, and less likely to end up in jail.

When affordable, high-quality childcare is paired with attainable housing, families are better able to buy homes and build equity and wealth. That's the base of a strong, thriving local economy.