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Parenting Place reports 189 added child-care slots and reduced waitlist in La Crosse
Summary
The Parenting Place reported adding 189 child-care slots in La Crosse through December 2025, distributing $361,518 in grants, reopening 114 slots via Back to Capacity grants, and reducing the local waitlist by 738; an employer survey (309 respondents) found most pay more than federal affordability guidance and many have considered leaving work due to childcare constraints.
Kaley Nix, Child Care Development Coordinator at The Parenting Place, told the commission that the organization’s child-care work added 189 child-care slots in La Crosse through December 2025 and distributed $361,518 to local programs through grants and support. “Through the Back to Capacity grama, 114 child care slots were reopened,” Nix said, and she reported that 10 new child-care programs opened in the area.
Nix described an employer survey of 309 responses across 30 local employers: 77% of respondents reported spending more than the federal recommendation for affordable child care of 7% of household income; 59.8% said they or a partner had considered staying home because of childcare issues; and 79% identified taking time off for a child’s illness as the leading childcare-related impact on employment. Nix also cited smaller impacts such as tardiness (31%) and difficulty concentrating at work (25%).
On provider supports, Nix said The Parenting Place completed a fourth round of a mentorship program, started a fifth round, and delivered Back to Capacity grants distributing $19,500 to five child-care centers that produced a reported 22 reopened slots from that round. Nix outlined next steps including a facility retention grant, continued community outreach and planning for the Child Care Provider Appreciation Event and Child Care Empowerment Conference.
Commissioners thanked The Parenting Place for the work and had no further questions at the meeting. The presentation provided data the commission can use in future funding and policy discussions around workforce supports and housing.
