Merrill Hosts Northwoods Forum on Child Care Wednesday Evening

Families, employers and community members will have an opportunity to discuss child care challenges facing north-central Wisconsin during a public forum Wednesday evening in Merrill.

Dream Up! Lincoln County and Advance Wisconsin Employment are hosting the Northwoods Forum on Child Care at the Lincoln County Service Center, 801 North Sales Street. A reception begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, with the forum scheduled for 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The discussion will bring together state and regional representatives to examine how child care availability and affordability affect working families, employers and the area’s economic development. Scheduled panelists include State Representative Patrick Snyder, Micki Krueger of Childcaring Inc., and Brian Kalish of Advance Wisconsin Employment. The discussion will be moderated by Sara Guild, Lincoln County’s economic development director, and Elsa Duranceau, chief executive officer of the Child Care Coalition of Wisconsin.

The forum is intended to encourage discussion about the challenges facing families and businesses and identify potential ways to strengthen child care access throughout the region.