Grants awarded to support the childcare efforts in the U.P.
"Childcare continues to be one of the most commonly cited barriers to workforce participation, and as a local economic development organization, we seek to remove such barriers every day," says Christopher Germain, who is CEO of the Lake Superior Community Partnership
What’s happening: The Lake Superior Community Partnership and 4C of the Upper Peninsula have been awarded two grants totaling $184,000 by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation to support implementation of the U.P. Childcare Coalition Action Plan and the U.P. Family Childcare Networks.
About the Action Plan: The plan, developed by a broad coalition of partners across the region, aims to expand access to childcare opportunities throughout the U.P. It includes expanding the reach of Childcare SPARK, an innovative business incubator to help create home-based childcare businesses, to six counties — Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Mackinac, Marquette and Ontonagon. The plan received $99,000 in funding to help with implementation.
The other initiative: Awarded $85,000 in funding, the FCCN initiative will help build and sustain a Family Child Care Network serving home-based childcare providers across the U.P. The initiative includes recruiting and engaging 25 home-based childcare providers across the region to participate in the new network.
What they’re saying: “Childcare continues to be one of the most commonly cited barriers to workforce participation, and as a local economic development organization, we seek to remove such barriers every day,” says Christopher Germain, who is CEO of the Lake Superior Community Partnership.
What’s next: The funding supports work slated to be done by September 30, 2025.
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