Marathon County officials are looking at the possibility of a childcare facility at the North Central Health Care/Health Department campus.
Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard told the county’s Extension, Education and Economic Development Committee last week that was something county leaders were looking into.
It turns out there is a spot on the campus that once was used for childcare, Leonhard says. They’re working with an existing childcare provider to determine if the space can work with today’s regulations.
Having a county facility, which most likely would mean a partnership with an outside provider, would help with the county and NCHC’s talent retention. A coalition of municipal and childcare leaders have been meeting for more than a year to find ways to address the county’s shortages in childcare. Marathon County had nearly 200 providers in 2012; that number dropped to less than 100 in 2021 and has continued to decline since.
Leonhard said one thing the county is concerned about is making sure adding a facility wouldn’t impact current providers. A number of providers that are still around have empty classrooms because they can’t find employees to staff them.
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