New Investments to Support Working Families
One of the most pressing needs facing families in Sheboygan County today is access to quality, affordable child care. When parents have reliable care, they can work, pursue education, and build stability. Meanwhile, their children benefit from safe, nurturing early learning environments that support healthy development. At United Way, we listen to local families, gather data, and work with partners to ensure our community has the resources it needs to thrive.
Following our 2024 Child Care Impact Survey, conducted by our Sheboygan County Community Partnership for Children (CPC) in collaboration with Leede Research, we heard directly from Sheboygan County families and child care providers about the challenges they face.
The message was clear: families need more child care options, especially for infants and toddlers. And yet, availability, affordability, and staffing shortages remain key barriers for many households across the county.
In response, our Sheboygan County Child Care Team took action, working collaboratively to support the expansion of child care capacity.
United Way and CPC’s Role in Administering Child Care ARPA Funds
United Way of Sheboygan County (UWSC) and our Community Partnership for Children (CPC) have helped guide the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds since the beginning. Ryan Wilinski, UWSC’s Director of Community Partnership for Children, serves on the Child Care Task Force that reviews grant applications and makes recommendations for how funds are allocated.
This collaborative and community-driven task force ensures ensures funding decisions are responsive to local needs of both local families and child care providers.
Investing in Solutions: ARPA Child Care Capacity Grants
To help expand capacity, the Sheboygan County Child Care Team allocated ARPA funding, administered through Family Connections, Inc. These grants are specifically aimed at increasing the number of licensed child care slots in our county.
After a competitive review process, two new child care start-up programs have been selected for funding:
1.) City Kids Child Care – Sheboygan
ARPA Grant Award: $100,000
Projected Capacity: 90 children
City Church, located on 31st street near North Avenue in Sheboygan, will renovate their existing classroom space to launch a new licensed child care. The program aims to provide care for up to 90 children, helping reduce existing waitlists and increasing access for families in the Sheboygan area.
2.) Magic Moments Child Care – Adell
ARPA Grant Award: $81,000
Projected Capacity: 25 children initially
Magic Moments Child Care will bring new child care options to rural Sheboygan County, where families often have limited access close to home. This investment supports both immediate child care needs and planned growth for our youngest learners. While the new center will open soon, they already have plans to expand to be able to serving even younger children, including infants.
Opening Timeline
Both programs are planning to open in March 2026, creating:
- More available child care slots
- Reduced waitlists
- Increased support for working families
- Expanded early learning opportunities
The addition of a program in Adell is particularly meaningful for rural families who have historically had fewer child care options nearby.
Why This Matters for Our Community
Increasing access to child care helps:
- Parents remain in the workforce
- Local businesses retain employees
- Children enter school ready to learn
- Communities thrive
These strategic investments directly respond to what families and providers told us in the 2024 Child Care Impact Survey: Child care access is vital—and we need more of it.
