April 30, 2026
We’re excited to share the latest from our Childcare Incubator construction site in Oshkosh! Since our last update when the walls went up, construction has continued to move forward — and the roof is nearly complete. Watch the video on our Facebook page to hear ADVOCAP Executive Director Tanya Marcoe share more from the site.
What is a Childcare Incubator?
If you’re wondering what a childcare incubator is, you’re not alone. A business incubator is a program that provides small business owners with space, business development services, and technical support to help them get established and grow. ADVOCAP launched its first business incubator over 40 years ago, and through our Business Development Program, we have long supported small businesses with SBA lending, technical assistance, and the resources they need to develop within their communities.
The Childcare Incubator brings that same model to childcare. Independent childcare business owners will operate their own small businesses within the facility under in-home childcare rules, without needing to use their personal home.
About the Incubator Building
The building features four individual units, each designed like a home environment, with its own kitchen, bathroom, living area, sleeping area, and outdoor space, along with separate entrances and exits. This setup gives providers and the children in their care a comfortable, familiar setting while benefiting from the business support and shared resources of the incubator.
As providers grow and move on to their own space, new childcare entrepreneurs will step in — creating an ongoing cycle of childcare availability and childcare business development.
A Solution to a Growing Need
With childcare options in Winnebago County declining steadily over the past decade, we are proud to be a part of the solution.
“The shortage of childcare in Winnebago County is reaching a critical point, affecting both families and local businesses,” says ADVOCAP Executive Director Tanya Marcoe. “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.”
The Childcare Incubator is expected to open later this year, and we look forward to sharing more updates as construction continues. Learn more about the Incubator on our website here.
Construction Partners and Funders
Thank you to 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 Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services.
