$3 Million For Early Childhood Learning
The Early Childhood Investment Corp. announced this week that it will award $3 million in grants to Great Start Collaboratives across Michigan to establish local matching funds.
Judy Y. Samelson, chief executive officer of ECIC, said Great Start Collaboratives receiving grants will annually "challenge" local businesses and foundations to contribute to the fund, thereby creating an ongoing pool from which to boost local early childhood efforts.
In addition to establishing the funds, collaboratives will spend their original "seed" grants from ECIC on child care scholarships for local low-income parents, creating an immediate benefit to families.
In Michigan, the average cost of full-time care for an infant or young child in a family child care home or center is between $6,400 and $8,900, according to a study by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies.
"Paying for child care scholarships in the first year makes the most sense because outside of the family home child care is the most significant early learning environment for children," said Samelson.
In future years, local communities will help decide how contributions to the matching fund by businesses and foundations are used.
The challenge grants, announced Tuesday at the Great Start Business Summit in East Lansing, will be funded through a combination of public and private sources.
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