By Tripp Stroud

Spring Green

Candidate for State Senate, 17th District

To the Editor: 

For too many of our Southwest Wisconsin communities, childcare is too far away and unaffordable. This isn’t just a problem for parents with young kids. It affects us all. 

It limits parents’ ability to get good family-supporting jobs. For the typical Wisconsin family of four, 30% of their pay goes to childcare. For small businesses, it limits the number of people in the workforce. Parents can’t fully participate in the workforce when they can’t find affordable childcare when and where they need it. For whole communities, it can lead to a hollowing out effect. Families put down roots elsewhere, businesses fall behind, our tax base shrinks, schools lose revenue, and we can see it right on Main Street.

This is a tragedy. 

Early care and education is good for kids. It helps them develop social skills and allows for earlier intervention with learning disabilities. It’s good for families, allowing parents the freedom to participate in the workforce. And it is good for our way of life. It means more parents will have the flexibility to start a business, to build a career, and to have high quality and affordable child care right where they live. There is reason for optimism. 

I am inspired by the leadership from the Green County Development Corporation, United Way of Green County, and the Green County Child Care Network. In the past year they were awarded a Preschool Development Community Innovation Grant and established a Childcare Business Accelerator after receiving a WEDC Seed Starter Grant. Dozens of childcare entrepreneurs have already graduated from Child Care Business Boot Camp.  The program now operates statewide. In case you missed it, these efforts partner mentees with current child care professionals, coach individuals on starting and improving childcare businesses, and help existing child care centers hire new staff, achieve certification, obtain mental health support for the children and staff at their program, and increase quality. 

One of the best investments we can make is to support child care professionals. They care for our loved ones and enable communities to thrive. The Green County Childcare Business Accelerator shows the power of what small towns and rural communities can do when we work together.