Lansing Sun

Child care programs in Michigan recently received $368 million in funds through the second round of the Child Care Stabilization Grant.

More than 5,500 child care programs were given grants that will provide $1,000 bonuses to nearly 26,000 full-time employees and help keep those businesses open, according to a press release from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D-Mich.) office.

“As a father, I know the importance of having skilled child-care professionals to care for our children. That’s why Gov. Whitmer and I continue to fight to pay child care professionals a living wage,” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II (D-Mich.) said in the press release. “These bonuses are a small step toward our bigger goals to improve compensation for child care professionals and support child care entrepreneurs — all while keeping care affordable for working families.”

The grants were part of Whitmer’s bipartisan budget “that included game-changing investments in child care,” the press release noted.

“The Child Care Stabilization Grants have uplifted the morale of the center,” Nawal Alsaeed, associate director of Kreative Kids Learning Center in Inkster, said. “Staff and families are feeling heard and seen. Our staff is feeling recognized and validated and they are motivated to continue in the field of early childhood. Two staff members have gone back to school and are earning degrees in education. I have another two staff members who have registered for CDA credentials. These funds will be the catalyst to continued growth of child care businesses.”

Child care providers can also use the funds to recruit and train more staff members and enhancing learning conditions, according to the press release. 

“Thanks to this grant, we were able to give our staff bonuses and upgrade our facility with an emphasis on safety and accessibility,” Jeff and Yvette Fredricks, owners and operators of a group home in Saginaw, said. “We were also able to provide our families with peace of mind by providing relief in case of unexpected times and unforeseen circumstances by way of our Parent Forgiveness Grant Fund, which helped families pay their tuition balance when times were tough.”