posted February 27, 2025
On February 26, ADVOCAP staff traveled to Madison to meet with legislators and share the vision behind our Childcare Incubator project. We extend our gratitude to the Senators, Representatives, and Staff who took the time to discuss the urgent need for affordable childcare in our communities. This initiative is an innovative step toward addressing Wisconsin’s affordable childcare shortage while empowering entrepreneurs in starting their own childcare businesses.
With funding from the City of Oshkosh, we have secured land on Jackson Street, and a grant from the SBA will support construction. Thanks to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, we are also ensuring the facility is fully equipped for success. Now, with over 60 aspiring childcare providers expressing interest, the momentum behind this project is stronger than ever. As we move forward with our initial capital campaign, we are grateful for the continued support of our community and legislators. We aim to break ground in mid-2025, with doors opening in early 2026. The Childcare Incubator will not only create affordable childcare options but also provide economic opportunities for low-income families while strengthening the workforce in Oshkosh.
Background and Project Details
Winnebago County has experienced a steady decline of available childcare options since 2015, leaving working parents with fewer choices. A childcare incubator offers an innovative solution by providing aspiring childcare providers with low-cost space, business coaching, licensure support, purchasing efficiencies, and curriculum assistance. This comprehensive support system enables new providers to establish and grow successful childcare businesses. As providers “graduate” from the program and move on to open their own in-home daycare or full childcare centers, the incubator will continuously recruit new entrepreneurs, creating an ongoing cycle of childcare availability for local families. Initially, the ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator will create 64 childcare slots, which could expand into hundreds as businesses grow.
Wisconsin faces a severe childcare crisis, with 54% of residents living in a childcare desert, meaning more than three children compete for every available childcare slot. This scarcity has two major consequences: it forces parents out of the workforce due to unaffordable childcare costs, and it drives up childcare prices. In Wisconsin, the average annual cost for infant care exceeds $12,000, while care for a four-year-old averages over $10,000. The ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator will directly address this crisis by recruiting and supporting new childcare providers in Oshkosh. Our phased approach includes future expansions, such as a Children’s shop for clothing and other items to generate operational funding and additional childcare units to meet growing demand. By combining workforce development, poverty reduction, and sustainable childcare expansion, the Childcare Incubator represents a transformative investment in the community’s future.
Learn more about the Incubator in this project summary PDF.
ADVOCAP would also like to thank Sabrina Hiton of WISCAP for joining us and taking photos at the Capitol building.
