Avon, Colo., Oct. 21, 2024 — The Vail Valley Foundation, through its Eagle River Valley Childcare 501(c)(3) nonprofit, continues to make steady progress toward bringing a new, much-needed early childhood education and development center to Avon.

Following a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a General Contractor issued in September, the VVF is pleased to announce that it has selected local company RA Nelson as its General Contractor for this important project. RA Nelson and the VVF have signed a pre-construction agreement and the VVF expects to execute a final agreement by March 2025, marking another milestone in addressing the critical need for childcare in Eagle County with local solutions.

"We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with the Town of Avon, Zehren and Associates, Hunn Consulting Group, and now, RA Nelson, in this crucial initiative," said Mike Imhof, President of the Vail Valley Foundation. "With thousands of local families currently unable to access the childcare they need, this project helps to address one of our community's most pressing challenges. By selecting RA Nelson, we're not just building a facility – we're investing in our community's future through a truly local approach."

Founded in 1976, RA Nelson is an employee-owned company that brings extensive experience in educational facilities and sustainable building practices to the project. Their selection underscores the community-driven nature of this initiative, as both organizations share deep roots in the Vail Valley.

“We are honored to join this project team and applaud the VVF and the Town of Avon for tackling this critical community work force need,” said Jason Morley, President of RA Nelson. “This new early childhood education and development project is just minutes from our office and our employees need stable, quality care for their kids. I’m excited to help bring this critical community resource to the finish line.”

The approach for the new Avon childcare center showcases a unique partnership and business model between the Town of Avon and the Vail Valley Foundation. The VVF is distributing an RFP (Request for Proposal) for the operator of the new early childhood education and development facility by the end of this week. The collaboration with the Town of Avon could serve as a template for similar future projects in the Eagle River Valley.

The 13,450-square-foot early childhood education and development center will provide approximately 165 spots for children ages 0-5 years, with a combination of open market availability for childcare spots and a unique employer-sponsored model. The initiative includes plans for a tuition assistance fund to ensure accessibility for families across different income levels.

The project is expected to break ground by May 2025, with the facility becoming operational by fall 2026.

For more information, visit vvf.org.

About the Vail Valley Foundation

The Vail Valley Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation 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. From early childhood to college and career, YouthPower365 provides programs to help youth reach their full potential and support youth and families every step of the way. The Vail Valley Foundation also provides the Vail Valley with several of its most treasured annual events, such as the GoPro Mountain Games, the Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup races, the Vail Dance Festival, and the Moe’s Original BBQ Hot Summer Nights and Town of Eagle ShowDown Town free concert series. The Vail Valley Foundation also manages and operates two performing arts centers, the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Village and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, providing more than 150 Broadway, dance, comedy, classical, rock, pop, jazz, community and family events per year. The organization also operates Eagle River Valley Childcare, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit corporation dedicated to increasing and enhancing early childhood education and development services across the Eagle River Valley community. Eagle River Valley Childcare’s first initiative is located in Avon, Colorado, and is a partnership and collaboration between the Vail Valley Foundation and the Town of Avon. Eagle River Valley Childcare capital and operational (programmatic) charitable contributions (donations) are both eligible for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Tax Credit (CCTC).

Vail Valley Foundation activities and events are in part made possible by cornerstone partners: Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, Beaver Creek Resort Company, GMC, GoPro, Nature Valley, Constellation Brands, CELSIUS, TINCUP Mountain Whiskey, and Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate.

To learn more about the Vail Valley Foundation, visit vvf.org.