LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday a $130 million investment to make child care affordable and accessible during the coronavirus pandemic.
The state created the "Child Care Relief Fund" to provide direct, non-competitive grants to child care providers.
The funds help ensure:
- Child care providers currently serving essential workers remain open, and costs associated with providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic are not passed on to essential workers.
- Child care providers can stay afloat during the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” state of emergency.
- Child care is more affordable to families now, and as our economy begins to reopen.
- Child care providers across the state have the resources needed to reopen for Michigan’s workforce when the recovery process of the current COVID-19 pandemic begins and more families are in need of child care options.
"Child care providers have been critical partners in helping our state respond to COVID-19, and we are extremely grateful for their service,” Whitmer said in a release. “Every child care provider and early educator is important in giving parents some peace of mind while they are delivering essential services to our state at this challenging time.”
The fund has $100 million in federal CARES Act fudning and another $30 million from the state's child care fund.
Licensed child care centers, family group homes, tribal child care providers, provisional disaster relief child care centers, and subsidized license exempt providers are all eligible for grants.
“These funds will help sustain high quality child care that is vital for Michigan’s children and families,” State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said in a release. “Whether it’s to help child care providers cover fixed costs like their mortgage, utilities, insurance, or payroll, we wanted the funds to be as flexible as possible to meet their specific needs.”
Beginning April 29, there will be an online application for child care providers to use at www.michigan.gov/childcare.
Grants start at $1,500 for home-based providers and $3,000 for child care centers.
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