MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI— The Lake Superior Community Partnership and 4C of the U.P. have received funding for the implementation of the U.P. Childcare Action Plan and Family Child Care Networks.
A total of $184,000 has been awarded for the initiatives by the Early Childhood Investment Corporation.
The Action Plan will receive $99,000. It was developed by a coalition of partners across the region in 2024 and seeks to expand access to childcare opportunities throughout the U.P. The funding will support activities including:
- Expanding the reach of Childcare SPARK, an innovative business incubator helping create home-based childcare businesses, to six counties: Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Mackinaw, Marquette, and Ontonagon
- Supporting a summer 2025 Childhood Development Associate (CDA) course, expanding the credentials of childcare professionals to provide high-quality childcare and education
- Expanding access to a qualified pool of substitute childcare providers to support existing childcare providers in ensuring consistent, high-quality services
- Expanding efforts to educate and inform businesses on the value of Tri-Share as a benefit they can offer employees to help mitigate childcare barriers
- Sharing resources with local governments on steps to create a more welcoming zoning environment for childcare services
- Coordinating additional gatherings and continued coalition meetings to share information, case studies, and other data helpful in advancing the action plan’s work
The FCCN initiative is getting $85,000. It aims to help build and sustain a Family Child Care Network serving home-based childcare providers across the Upper Peninsula. Funding will support activities including:
- Recruiting and engaging 25 home-based childcare providers across the region to participate in a new Family Child Care Network
- Holding monthly virtual and rotating in-person meetings to build community, share resources, and offer peer support
- Providing access to professional development opportunities, including participation in the April 2025 “Birth to Three” conference
- Offering onsite consultation, peer mentoring, and coaching to strengthen childcare quality and provider business operations
- Supporting providers in financial management, career advancement, and connections to local resources and services
- Collecting and analyzing data to guide programming, track progress, and improve outcomes for providers and families
All activities will be supported through September 30th of this year.
