Building Community Supports
The opportunity:
The Eagle River Valley is classified as a childcare desert. The lack of affordable and accessible childcare is at a crisis level, just like our need for workforce housing. Currently, we can only provide childcare for 50% of the need in our Valley. We desperately need high-quality, incremental, affordable, and accessible childcare.
What we will do:
The Vail Valley Foundation is uniquely positioned to embrace private and public partnerships to bring together local businesses, government, and private partners to build additional high-quality childcare facilities starting in Avon, with Lettuce Patch Early Learning Center, and creating additional sites Down Valley in Edwards, Eagle, and Gypsum.
Addressing the Childcare Shortage
The Eagle River Valley is currently experiencing a critical shortage of childcare, with nearly half of the Valley’s childcare needs unmet. Many families rely on informal care, delay returning to work, or leave the workforce altogether because they can’t find licensed childcare.
Lettuce Patch Early Learning Center
In 2022, the Vail Valley Foundation established the Eagle River Valley Childcare 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help address the region’s growing need for high-quality early childhood education. That vision is now becoming a reality with the opening of Lettuce Patch Early Learning Center.
Lettuce Patch Early Learning Center is scheduled to open in Avon in October 2026. The all-electric, 13,595-square-foot facility will serve up to 165 children ages six weeks to 5 years, helping expand access to high-quality early childhood education for families throughout the Eagle River Valley.
For enrollment, employment opportunities, and additional details, visit lettucepatch.org.
$4 Million Tuition, Housing, and Operational Fund
To date, VVF has raised more than $13.4 million toward construction of Lettuce Patch Early Learning Center. VVF is also fundraising for a $4 million Tuition, Housing, and Operational Fund to support working families across income levels, help attract and retain qualified early childhood educators, and support operational expenses.
Project Updates: Lettuce Patch Early Learning Center
Summer 2026
June Images
Winter 2026
March Images
Winter 2026
January Drone Images
Courtesy RA Nelson
Construction Highlights
Winter 2025-2026
Fall 2025
November Drone Images
Summer 2025
Groundbreaking Ceremony & Construction Begins
Pre-Construction
Project Renderings
