GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — An effort to improve childcare access in Green Bay appears to be paying off.
Last year, the city awarded a $100,000 grant, which came from federal American Rescue Plan funds, to support the creation of additional child care slots in the city.
That grant helped aid in opening up 56 new child care slots as of December 31 of 2024.
Another 170 could become available this year.
“The big challenge has been the number of slots that we’ve had available,” said Jamie Tramte Brassfield with Family & Childcare Resources of Northeast Wisconsin. “Just being able to access quality care has been a huge struggle for families.”
Childcare providers like Tammy Ullmer reaped the benefits from the grant, as she now serves as an in-home provider for infants.
“These dollars helped me prepare my home so that I can think futuristically. So, the cribs will grow with the children,” said Ullmer.
According to 2022 data from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, the average yearly price for full-time child care cost parents nearly $11,000 dollars.
While the grant dollars may not be directly lowering the cost of childcare for families, it’s expanding access.
“Wait lists are a challenge,” said Brassfield. “We saw family members stepping in, we’ve seen grandparents retire early so they could take care of their grandchildren. Sometimes that isn’t the best solution, but that’s the solution that’s able to happen for families.”
Data also shows parents who are not the workforce to focus on caring for their child costs Wisconsin at least $1.1 billion dollars per year in lost economic productivity, earnings and revenue.
“A lot of places charge to be on their waitlist, so parents are putting their name and never getting a spot,” said Ullmer.
Leaders agree there’s more work to be done to alleviate the issue of childcare.
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