Gov. Evers launched Child Care Bridge Payment program

Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday the launch of the Child Care Bridge Payment Program, providing $110 million in monthly direct payments to Wisconsin child care providers through June 2026. This initiative is part of a larger $360 million investment included in the bipartisan biennial budget that is an effort to stabilize Wisconsin’s child care industry. Evers said the Child Care Bridge Payment program ensures there won’t be any gaps in funding following after the Child Care Counts Program ended this month. The Child Care Counts program started in 2020 with federal funding, and Evers extended it in 2023 with state funding, which ran out earlier this year. The initial application period for the bridge payment program opens on July 26 and closes on Aug. 3. Direct payments to child care providers will start in mid-August. Over the next year, there will be additional opportunities to apply each month.