The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is giving a boost to a Manitowoc County agency that aims to increase child care availability there.
$133,390 is being steered toward Progress Lakeshore’s Child Care Accelerator project, which addresses a growing need for accessible child care in rural areas. Manitowoc County alone needs an estimated 2,426 additional child care slots in order to meet demand. Funds come from the WEDC’s statewide Entrepreneurship Partner Grants.
A cornerstone of the project is the development of a child care incubator, which will provide mentorship, training, and facilities to new providers. Single-classroom spaces in underutilized buildings will be offered at low-cost rent, lowering barriers to entry. Progress Lakeshore will also offer low-interest loans and create a revolving loan fund to support providers in improving facility quality in the community.
Progress Lakeshore’s Executive Director, Jamie Zastrow, said that the funding will enable a big step forward in addressing the critical child care gap by supporting new providers and removing common financial and structural barriers in Manitowoc County.
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