On January 10, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson brought together representatives from the MKE Early Childhood Education Coalition to discuss the impact of the city’s $7 million American Rescue Plan Act investment into the ECE workforce.

On November 30, the Early Childhood Workforce Stipend Program was officially launched. This investment in the ECE workforce represents an exciting win for the Milwaukee Succeeds-led ECE Coalition, which successfully advocated for the ARPA funding last year.

This October, the Milwaukee Succeeds-led Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coalition was featured by two statewide organizations, who highlighted the innovative work taking place within the diverse group.

The Children’s Funding Project recently highlighted Milwaukee’s $7 million ARPA investment into the ECE workforce - and the incredible work which the Milwaukee Succeeds-led ECE Coalition did to secure it.

In June, StriveTogether praised Milwaukee Succeeds for their work in uniting community leaders during COVID to address urgent community needs.

The Milwaukee Succeeds-led ECE Coalition recently completed a citywide survey of child care providers in order to determine what impact Child Care Counts funding has had on the industry. The new data, which was released in a report titled “Making Every Dollar Count,” demonstrates the critical need for such funding, while also highlighting the concerns that still remain for providers.

In April, the Children’s Funding Project released a new report, recognizing Milwaukee Succeeds and the Milwaukee Early Childhood Education Coalition as key players in the ongoing efforts to stabilize the sector, bringing national attention to the two initiatives.

During the height of the pandemic, Milwaukee’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coalition facilitated mental health trainings for hundreds of providers. Now, thanks to a generous grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, these trainings are set to reach even more of the city’s educators.

How much of an impact did the Child Care Counts funds truly have on Milwaukee’s ECE providers? That’s precisely what Milwaukee’s ECE Coalition intends to find out through their new survey, which will be distributed to family and group providers on January 31.

After the start of the pandemic, some local childcare centers have received fiscal support from grant sources including our parent organization — the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.