Active Regional Pilots (2026)
Colorado Child Care Cost-Sharing & Hubs
Colorado has launched regional Tri-Share hubs and a50% employer tax credit(HB 24-1312). Combined with Universal Preschool and Federal 45F, Colorado employers can achieve80%+ savingson child care benefits.
2026
Program Year
Active
Program Status
45F
Federal Credit Available
All
Employers Eligible
⚖️ How the Cost Split Works
Employer Pays
~33%
of total tuition
Colorado Pays
~33%
state match
Parent Pays
~33%
of total tuition
📊 The Colorado Savings Stack
Stack available Colorado programs with the Federal 45F Tax Credit for maximum employer savings.
| Benefit Layer | Small Business (<$32M) | Large Business |
|---|---|---|
| State Program Benefit | Varies by program | Varies by program |
| Federal 45F Credit (2026) | 50% Tax Credit | 40% Tax Credit |
| Net Employer Cost | Significantly Reduced | Significantly Reduced |
💰 Real-World Employer Savings
| Cost Component | Without Program | With State + 45F Stack |
|---|---|---|
| Annual child care cost (per employee) | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| State Program Benefit | $0 | Varies |
| Employee Share | $0 | Reduced |
| Employer Share | $12,000 | Reduced |
| Federal 45F Credit (50% of employer share) | $0 | Significant savings |
| Net Employer Cost | $12,000 | Significantly Lower |
📋 All Available Programs
Federal 45F Tax Credit
Federal Tax Credit
Up to $600,000/year
All U.S. employers
Duo-Share Program
Employer-Employee Split
Flexible cost sharing
All employers — no state required
📍 Geographic Coverage
Major Cities Served
County Coverage
Larimer County is the primary Tri-Share hub. All 64 Colorado counties are eligible for HB 24-1312 employer tax credits and UPK Colorado.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Colorado currently operates regional Tri-Share hubs in Larimer County, Mesa County, and the San Luis Valley as of 2026. These are direct replicas of the Michigan model, funded by the state's Employer-Based Child Care Design Lab.
Yes. Starting in 2026, HB 24-1312 allows employers to claim 50% of child care contributions as a state tax credit, up to $3,000 per employee per year. This can be stacked with the Federal 45F credit for massive savings.
This is a CDEC initiative that provides grants and technical assistance to Colorado businesses to design and launch Tri-Share or Duo-Share models. It has funded five regional hubs as of 2026.
Colorado's UPK program provides 15-30 free hours per week of preschool for high-needs families in the 2025-26 school year. This significantly lowers the 'parent' portion of the cost-sharing math.
The Larimer County hub, administered by the United Way of Larimer County, is currently the most advanced Tri-Share pilot in Colorado. It uses a partnership between United Way and local employers to administer the ~33/33/33 split.
Yes. Because the Colorado State Tax Credit (HB 24-1312) provides a 50% match, a Duo-Share in Colorado is effectively a Tri-Share where the state's credit covers the 'Public' leg. Launch a 50/50 split and use the state credit to recoup half your costs.
Child care in Colorado averages $15,000-$18,000 per year for infants. The 2026 state credit (50%), Federal 45F (50%), and UPK expansion can reduce employer costs by 80% or more.
📚 References & Sources
Last Updated: March 1, 2026
📋 Available Programs & Incentives
Larimer County Tri-Share Pilot
Regional Tri-Share
Employer/County/Employee cost split
Eligibility: Larimer County employers and families
HB 24-1312 Employer Tax Credit
State Tax Credit
50% of employer contributions (up to $100K/yr)
Eligibility: All Colorado employers with qualifying child care expenses
Universal Pre-K (UPK Colorado)
State Program
15 hours/week free pre-K for all 4-year-olds
Eligibility: All Colorado 4-year-olds
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)
State Subsidy
Sliding-scale co-pay based on income
Eligibility: Families at or below 85% SMI
Federal Section 45F Credit
Federal Tax Credit
Up to 50% of employer costs (max $600K/yr)
Eligibility: All U.S. employers with qualifying child care expenses
Duo-Share (Employer + Employee)
Employer Benefit
Flexible split — employer covers 25–75%
Eligibility: Any Colorado employer, no state program required
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Larimer County operates Colorado's primary Tri-Share pilot, where employers, the county, and employees each contribute approximately one-third of child care costs. The program is modeled after Michigan's statewide Tri-Share program.
HB 24-1312 created a 50% employer tax credit on contributions toward employee child care costs, up to $100,000 per employer per year. This credit can be stacked with the Federal Section 45F Credit.
Universal Pre-K (UPK) Colorado provides 15 hours per week of free pre-K for all Colorado 4-year-olds, regardless of family income. It launched in 2023 and is available statewide.
Yes — Colorado employers can stack the HB 24-1312 state credit (50%) with the Federal Section 45F Credit (up to 50%). Together, these credits can offset nearly all employer child care contributions.
Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder, and Colorado Springs have the most active employer programs. Larimer County (Fort Collins) is the primary Tri-Share hub.
Colorado has a regional pilot in Larimer County but not a statewide Tri-Share program. HB 24-1312 provides a strong tax credit alternative for employers statewide. Contact us for a Duo-Share consultation.
Apply through your county Department of Human Services or at colorado.gov/cccap. Income eligibility is based on 85% of the State Median Income (SMI).