Gov. Whitmer Announces Grants for Community Planning to Lower Costs & Expand Access to Child Care

March 10, 2023 

Contact: press@michigan.gov  

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced $2.4 million in Regional Child Care Planning Grants from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s (ECIC) Child Care Innovation Fund, benefitting 81 counties in all 10 Michigan Economic Development Corporation regions across Michigan.

16 Regional Child Care Planning Grant recipients will each receive $150,000. The grantees, by MEDC Region, are:

• • Region 1: Upper Peninsula – UPWARD Talent Council
  • Region 2: Northwest – Networks Northwest
  • Region 3: Northeast – Northeast Michigan Council of Governments
  • Region 3: Northeast – Develop Iosco, Inc.
  • Region 4: West Michigan- The Right Place, Inc. & Vibrant Futures
  • Region 4: West Michigan – United Way of the Lakeshore
  • Region 4: West Michigan – Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
  • Region 5: East Central Michigan – Middle Michigan Development Corporation
  • Region 6: East Michigan – Flint and Genesee Chamber Foundation
  • Region 6: East Michigan – Huron County Economic Development Corporation
  • Region 7: South Central – Lansing Economic Area Partnership
  • Region 8: Southwest – Pulse @ W.E. Upjohn Institute of Employment Research
  • Region 9: Southeast Michigan – Lenawee Economic Development Corporation
  • Region 9: Southeast Michigan – Ann Arbor SPARK
  • Region 10: Detroit Metro – Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
  • Region 10: Detroit Metro – IFF & Hope Starts Here

“This is an exciting time as for the first time ever, in many communities across Michigan, economic development leaders are coming together with early childhood leaders to work alongside municipalities and major employers on solving their community’s child care crisis,” said Dawne Bell, CEO of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation. “We are so thankful for this investment from the MI Dept. of Education and our strategic partnership with MEDC to be able to support regions across Michigan to accelerate investments in child care.”

“Vibrant Futures and The Right Place are thrilled to be teaming up for this game-changing opportunity to lead the regional planning in the western region,” says Chana Edmond-Verley, CEO of Vibrant Futures.  “We know that child care is an essential and strategic component to 21^st century talent efforts, especially when the aim is business attraction.  Business growth is simply stifled without it. The regional planning effort will prove to be a gateway to increased childcare supply, and economic alignment; and a critical accelerator for all Michigan families needing child care to get to work.”