WATCH: Why is this rural Wisconsin childcare provider closing her doors?

After having a baby in 2006 and noticing some of her friends were also lacking options for childcare in rural Green County, Corrine Hendrickson decided to put her teaching degree to work and start a business: Corrine’s Little Explorers.

She didn’t make a lot of money being a childcare provider, but Corrine loved what she did and was happy to help in meeting the needs of the New Glarus community.

All of these years later, Corrine’s still taking care of kids—but only for a few more weeks.

Under Republican control, Wisconsin remains one of the few states that doesn’t dedicate state funds to childcare. Gov. Tony Evers has been using federal pandemic relief money to help keep providers afloat, but those dollars have dried up.

Childcare advocates had been pushing for state investment for years. While the recently passed 2025-27 biennial state budget includes a first-ever investment in childcare, providers like Corrine say it’s not going to add up.

✏️/🎥: Salina Heller