As more businesses begin to open and an increasing number of Michiganders are returning to their workplaces, the state is providing support to ensure families are receiving quality child care. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced her proposal to invest $1.4 billion in federal child care funding to expand access to high-quality child care, make child care more affordable and support child care professionals as part of the administration's Economic Jumpstart Plan.

In the Governor’s executive budget recommendation, she proposed a $370 million investment to expand access to no-cost or low-cost childcare for 150,000 more families.

CMF members have been supporting projects that work to create a more equitable child care system in Michigan. 

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation recently partnered with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) to create a $3 million Child Care Innovation Fund. 

The Fund will “invest in innovative regional and community pilot projects which target several priorities” including:

•    Advancing child care as essential community infrastructure for economic growth and development, business productivity and school readiness.

•    Improving the wages, benefits, on-the-job supports and professional learning of early educators.

•    Accelerating the start-up and expansion of licensed child care businesses in areas with more than three children under age five.

•    Collaborating on child care solutions with employers to help working families.

•    Increasing the economic viability and sustainability of child care businesses.

Applications are now being accepted for the first round of funding opportunities.

A recent bipartisan legislative proposal aims to further improve access to child care. 

The proposal would allow child care providers to operate in multi-use buildings which could give working parents more child care options closer to their homes. 

The bill would additionally create a contract model to increase access to infant and toddler child care in areas where families do not have close access.

Another component of the bill would create statewide child care networks to provide business support for providers.

Earlier this month, Governor Whitmer announced her plan to support early education. The plan would increase funding for the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), the state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children.

According to the press release, investments in GSRP provide both immediate and long-term results, such as improved literacy performance by 3rd grade, narrowed achievement gaps between students in low- and high-income homes and improved high school graduation rates. 

The plan also calls for an additional $50 million in federal funds to support:

•    Ensuring an adequate supply of providers based on regional demands through grants to providers.

•    Ensuring additional access to transportation for early education.

•    Providing scholarships to early educators to ensure teaching staff are properly credentialed.

•    Expanding outreach efforts to increase parental awareness of the availability of free programs in their area and developing web resources to connect parents to all programs in their area.

"We have a unique opportunity right now to make the type of investments in early education and preschool that will pay massive dividends by improving health, educational, and social outcomes for our children decades down the line," Governor Whitmer said.

Want more? 

Learn more about The Child Care Innovation Fund.

Read more about the Governor’s child care investment. 

Learn more about the Governor’s plan to support early education.