Question: Tell me more about the Early Childhood Investment Corporation?  

• The mission of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation is “to increase public and private investment in the earliest years, to elevate issues affecting young children and their families, and continuously improve Michigan’s comprehensive early childhood system.”  

  • Currently, Michigan’s childcare sector is in crisis.  

    • Lack of providers.  

    • An underpaid workforce.  

    • Growing demand.  

  • ECIC provides multiple funds and grants to create a roadmap of proven child care solutions for Michigan.  

    • Funds and grants include:  

      • Child Care Innovation Fund. 

        • Invests in innovative regional and community pilot projects, like improving wages for childcare professionals and getting providers licensed.  

      • ECIC apprenticeship grant. 

        •  Funding to support communities to launch, replicate or sustain apprenticeship models.  

      • ECIC regional planning grant.  

        • Brings economic development and early childhood leaders together to increase access to affordable child care.  

Question: What challenges are currently affecting childhood education and the workforce in Michigan?  

• “Over two-thirds of Michigan’s early care and education workforce earns less than $15 per hour, despite over 67% possessing a postsecondary credential.” 

• Because women comprise over 91% of Michigan’s ECE (or early childhood education) workforce, and many are women of color, this low pay perpetuates racial and gender-based wealth disparities.”  

• “Even though the nation has seen modest growth in the ECE workforce since 2001, Michigan saw a decline of nearly 27%, which equates to a loss of 29,000 educators and the reduction of an estimated 116,000 to 348,000 child care job openings.”  

Question: What is CAMW!’s involvement with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation? 

• Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!) is currently involved in two grants with the ECIC.  

• Carrie, please provide information regarding how CAMW! is specifically involved with the following:  

  • ECIC Apprenticeship grant.  

  • ECIC Regional Planning grant, co-leading with LEAP and United Way of South Central.  

Question: Carrie, given your educational degree focuses on early childhood education, what do these projects mean to you?  

• Carrie, provides her thoughts on this one....   

For more information, visit: https://www.ecic4kids.org/