March 9, 2023 at 1:53 p.m.
Evers visits Northwoods to highlight child care initiatives
Evers visits Northwoods to highlight child care initiatives
By Trevor Greene-
One of the governor's three stops was at Tiny Tykes Daycare in Rhinelander, which received more than $33,000 through the Child Care Counts Program.
In his 2023-25 executive budget, Evers is proposing more than $340 million to continue the program, which was created during the pandemic to support the state's "early care and education community" by helping child care businesses stay open and retain staff.
With six children currently enrolled, Tiny Tykes owner and operator Amanda Engstrom said she hopes to use the Child Care Counts money to expand her building in the future. She said she has found there to be a high demand for child care in the community.
"For infants, I have 25 on my waitlist," Engstrom said. "And for (age) two and up I have quite a bit of a waiting list as well."
The funding was easy to apply for with a straightforward application, Engstrom noted. She said she hopes that state programs like the one that helped her will improve Rhinelander's economy, "as far as getting more child care providers out there and more teachers as well."
Teaching young children what they need to know in order for them to be successful in the future is what Engstrom said she enjoys the most in terms of what she does. She also emphasized the importance of young children becoming accustomed to a daily routine.
During the visit, Evers took a moment to speak with Engstrom, and he thanked her for her service to the community. He then read "The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear" by Don and Audrey Wood.
Before leaving Tiny Tykes for Auntie M's Child Care Center in Niagara, Evers told members of the press he believes the state is in a good position to make a significant investment towards child care.
"This is a two-way street," he said. "I laid out what my belief is as it relates to child care and a lot of other areas, and so if (Republicans) find that to be too big of a chunk then they should come up with their own plan and let's have some conversations."
Evers, who is a Democrat, said Republicans understand how important it is to support different initiatives like child care. He said he is confident he and the Republican-led Legislature will find compromise in the numbers.
"Absolutely," he said. "They just need to stop thinking about making hay and start thinking about what will work. And so let them come up with a plan. We laid out a road map, I think an important, realistic road map. But if they feel it has to be less, tell me what less means."
Child care centers located in rural areas in particular are tremendously important, Evers noted. "Rural areas need child care as much as anywhere else in the state," he said. "So yes, we need to support them ... but if people want to work they have to feel comfortable that their kids are taken care of and this is a good example of that."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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