Nearly 5,200 child care providers receiving $253 million in grants to keep child care facilities open and serving Michigan families 

LANSING, MI -- On Oct 6th, Governor Gretchen Whitmer continued her commitment to expand access to quality, affordable child care for Michigan families by awarding $253 million in grants to child care programs across the state. Nearly 5,200 child care programs received funding through the third round of the Child Care Stabilization Grant. These funds will keep programs open for business and serving Michigan families.?? 

“Michigan thrives when every family has access to quality, affordable child care that meets their needs,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I’ve worked across the aisle to make record, bipartisan investments in in child care because as a mom I know the importance of having a child care provider you trust and your kids love. All our kids deserve a strong start. These grants are another investment in their future, our child care industry, early educators, and our state’s prosperity. Let’s keep working together for our kids."?? 

“As a father, I know the importance of having skilled child care professionals to care for our kids,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “These stabilization grants are a step towards our goals to support child care entrepreneurs and improve access to care for working families, helping them go to work knowing their kids are cared for. Governor Whitmer and I will continue working hard to boost access to affordable child care in every community.”?? 

“The Child Care Stabilization Grants have been beneficial and well received by child care providers for exactly that reason – to stabilize the industry,” said Kristen Sobolewski, Project Director for First Steps Kent.?"Because of added stresses like the rising costs of supplies and food, these grants have been a lifeline to allow child care businesses to remain open, which in turn allows families to remain working, confident their children are being taken care of.?As we look to the future, we stand ready to support additional financial investments that center equity, innovative solutions, and public awareness to help expand access to child care in Michigan." 

"Accessible, affordable high-quality child care is essential to the prosperity in?Northwest Michigan and across the state.? The historic investments in our child care community in the way of Child Care Stabilization Grants have been life-giving to those in this profession,” said Yvonne Donohoe McCool, director of early childhood, Northwest Education Services. “Across our rural counties, we are actively working to build back the child care system in a robust way that ensures families have great options and providers are supported and able to earn a living by caring for our youngest learners." 

These grants were part of a bipartisan budget Governor Whitmer signed that included game-changing investments in child care and delivered on the kitchen-table issues that matter most to families, communities, and small businesses. 

Grants were awarded to licensed centers, group homes, family homes, and tribal child care providers. Funds may be used to lower tuition costs for families, increase compensation for early educators, recruit and train new staff members, improve learning environments, and more.?? 

The Child Care Stabilization Grant is a non-competitive grant for child care programs to help stabilize operations and support the health and safety of children and staff. Eligible licensed child care programs applied for funding in summer 2022.?? 

• Total grant awards: 5,170 ? 
• Total funding: $252,975,352  
• Average awards: ?  

• Family home program: $8,717 
• Group home program: $17,028  
• Child care center: $89,905 

Staff in the Michigan Department of Education's Office of Child Development and Care worked diligently with the support of partners across the state to manage and process the grants to ensure that all eligible child care providers were able to apply for and receive the funds as quickly as possible. Additional information about the program is available at Michigan.gov/childcare.?