April 12, 2023
Contact: Gina Paige or Jamie Keehn, 608-422-7800 or dcfmedia@wisconsin.gov

Over $9 million in Partner Up! grants now available to employers to help attract and retain employees

MADISON – Employers are now able to apply for the latest cohort of the Partner Up! grants from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF). Over $9 million in funding is available to employers who are interested in offering paid child care as an employee benefit.

“We saw an exponential amount of interest in the first two cohorts of this program and are pleased to be able to offer another round of grants, thanks to the Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy and Training (QUEST) grant funding we received from the Department of Workforce Development,” said DCF Secretary Emilie Amundson. “This additional funding will allow more businesses to take the leap and offer attractive benefits that not only strengthen their business, but also their employees’ families and the child care providers within their communities.”

Grant applications and program information, including eligibility and changes in program details, are available on DCF’s Partner Up! webpage and open until May 12, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. CST. Applications are open to employers who want to receive a Partner Up! grant for the first time and those who would like to renew their current contracts.

As of March 2023, 220 businesses have enrolled in Partner Up!, securing slots for over 1,200 children across Wisconsin. Due to the high demand and success of the program, Governor Evers has included a foundational investment of $22 million in his 2023 – 25 Biennial Budget to continue the Partner Up! grant program and grow innovative partnerships between businesses and the early care and education community.

Partner Up!  is one of many investments the Evers Administration has made to stabilize and grow the early care and education industry. Governor Evers and DCF Secretary Amundson have invested over $824 million in federal relief funds and implemented multiple programs and initiatives in communities across the state. These transformational investments have significantly reduced the number of permanent and temporary closures of regulated child care providers and helped bring together child providers, communities, and businesses to find sustainable solutions and partnerships.

To learn more about DCF, visit www.dcf.wisconsin.gov and follow @WisDCF on Twitter and Facebook.

This press release is also available in a PDF format.