MADISON, WIS. – More than 75 Wisconsin businesses, employers, trade associations and economic development organizations are calling on the state Legislature to invest in Wisconsin’s child care sector.
Businesses and organizations from a wide range of sectors have signed a petition that urges significant state investment to prevent a worsening child care crisis, child care program closures, and increasing rates for parents. The petition underscores accessible, affordable child care is essential for recruiting and retaining employees who are working parents, preventing frequent employee absenteeism and turnover, and staving off nearly $2 billion in yearly losses of economic productivity due to the child care crisis.
Wisconsin’s child care challenges are not new – in fact, they are decades long and were significantly worsened by the effects of the pandemic. Federal COVID relief dollars helped prevent the complete collapse of the child care industry since 2020, and state funding support is needed to prevent the effects of those dollars ending later this month.
Even more troubling, Wisconsin is one of only six U.S. states that invest no additional public dollars into young children beyond federal funding and required state matching funds.
Many local businesses, employers, and coalitions have explored and continue to work at the regional level to support the child care industry, but they have found that these must be complemented with a long-term significant investment of state revenue for stability and growth.
