Childcare Incubator
Strengthening Childcare Access and Workforce Opportunities 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.
Incubator Update: February 2026
The ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator in Oshkosh continues to take shape and we’re thrilled to share that the walls are now up. See photos on our recent blog post here. This milestone reflects the collaboration of community partners and funders who are helping make this project possible.
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. Within the Incubator, providers will operate using an in-home childcare model, but out of a shared facility rather than their personal residence, removing common barriers such as space limitations or rental restrictions. 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 Adashun Jones Real Estate & Signature Homes. “Being involved from the start has given our team an opportunity to be part of a project that creates real opportunities for childcare entrepreneurs. The incubator model is sustainable, scalable for the future, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
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.
Decades of Supporting Childcare Providers and Small Businesses
ADVOCAP has decades of experience working alongside childcare providers and small business owners to help strengthen access to care and support local economic opportunities. In 1969, ADVOCAP launched Kindercare, the first childcare center in Fond du Lac County. In 1985, ADVOCAP established our first business incubator, initiating more than 40 years of work supporting local business development.
This experience directly shapes how the Childcare Incubator is designed today. Providers in the Incubator will have access to on-site business development support, technical assistance, and guidance informed by ADVOCAP’s long-standing work with childcare providers and small startup businesses. This support is intended to help providers build sustainable programs and grow with confidence as they serve families in the community. Learn about our business development and small business loan services here.
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 Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services.