New child care platform from Lincoln County native set to launch this summer

On April 9, 2025, Lincoln County native and former candidate for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District announced the upcoming launch of a new child care platform in the Badger State.
Elsa Duranceau is the founder of the Child Care Coalition of Wisconsin (3CWI), which, according to a release from the organization, is a nonprofit established in 2023 to “address the child care industry crisis, with a mission to reinforce the Wisconsin workforce by supporting child care professionals to meet the demands of Wisconsin families through innovative programs and partnerships.”
The release said the new platform from 3CWI is “designed to create a sustainable new revenue stream for child care providers across the state.”
“Set to pilot in Lincoln, Langlade, and St. Croix counties in Aug. 2025, this innovative system will function as a reservation platform for future available infant care slots, allowing families and employers to plan ahead and providers to stabilize income through forward booking,” the release said.
“Wisconsin child care providers are facing the potential end of the Child Care Counts program with no safety net,” Duranceau said. “Our goal is to provide some support to providers and more financial predictability while offering employers a practical solution to a major workforce issue. This is just the beginning of what we believe will be a game-changer for the child care industry in Wisconsin.”

The release said the platform will initially be available to area employers as members, with plans to open access to families as the system expands.
“Following the pilot, 3CWI plans to grow the platform throughout the St. Croix Valley and into Marathon and Oneida counties by Jan. 2026, with full statewide rollout projected by the end of 2026,” the release said.
3CWI said the initiative “would not be possible without the generous support of local partners.”
“3CWI extends heartfelt thanks to the Lincoln County government, the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation, the Our Way Foundation, and St. Croix Economic Development Corporation,” the organization said. “Their leadership and commitment to child care innovation have been instrumental in bringing this project to life.”
For more information, or to participate as a regulated child care provider, contact Elsa Duranceau at director@3cwi.org or 715.527.0486.
To learn more about 3CWI, visit 3cwi.org.