Childcare Incubator
Strengthening Childcare Access and Workforce in Winnebago County
ADVOCAP is proud to announce the development of our new Childcare Incubator in Oshkosh, designed to expand access to quality childcare while supporting local entrepreneurs and strengthening small businesses. This innovative project provides startup space and business development resources for new and existing childcare providers, helping them launch and sustain programs that meet community needs.
Groundbreaking Update: December 2025
The Childcare Incubator is scheduled to break ground in early December. We are thrilled to begin construction, which represents a significant investment in the region’s childcare system and workforce development. Follow our Facebook page and blog for updates about the Incubator.
About the Childcare Incubator
Winnebago County has experienced a steady decline of available childcare options since 2015, leaving working parents with fewer choices. A childcare incubator offers an innovative solution by providing aspiring childcare providers with low-cost space, business coaching, licensure support, purchasing efficiencies, and curriculum assistance. This comprehensive support system enables new providers to establish and grow successful childcare businesses.
As providers become established through the Incubator and move to their own in-home daycare or childcare centers, the ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator will continuously recruit new entrepreneurs, creating a cycle of childcare availability for local families.
“The shortage of childcare in Winnebago County is reaching a critical point, affecting both families and local businesses,” says Tanya Marcoe, ADVOCAP Executive Director. “By creating a supportive environment for providers to launch and thrive, we are investing in families, the workforce, and the long-term health of our community.”
Signature Homes by Adashun Jones Real Estate, the project’s construction partner, is leading the development of the facility. “Partnering with Tanya and ADVOCAP on this project has been an incredible opportunity to bring innovation to an issue that impacts so many families and small business owners,” says Glenn Elmer, Broker/Owner at Signature Homes by Adashun Jones Real Estate. “Being involved from the earliest stages — from site selection through design and build — has allowed our Signature Homes team to help shape something that truly strengthens our communities. This Childcare Incubator opens doors for entrepreneurs who might not otherwise have the opportunity to build a business in childcare, creating a model that’s both sustainable and scalable for the future.”
Incubator Impact
This initiative — made possible through federal and municipal grants as well as support from local foundations and companies — represents a collaborative effort to address childcare challenges in the region and provide opportunities for both families and the local workforce. Initially, the ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator looks to support 64 childcare slots, which could expand into hundreds as businesses grow. The Childcare Incubator is expected to open in late 2026.
Background Information
For a detailed overview of the Childcare Incubator, including project goals and community impact, download our Childcare Incubator PDF here.
Construction Partners and Funders
We’re grateful for the partners and funders who have made the construction of the Childcare Incubator possible.
This project is also funded in part by grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration and
the Department for Children and Families, Office of Community Services.