The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) are leading a comprehensive, statewide effort – Caring for MI Future – to increase the number of licensed child care programs across the state. Caring for MI Future is a $100 million investment that will help more Michigan families find quality, affordable child care in their community by opening 1,000 new, or expanded, child care programs by the end of 2024. First Children’s Finance received $600,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, awarded by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) as part of the Caring for MI Future initiative to expand the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) to serve six rural communities with a focus on the sustainability and supply of Michigan child care.

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Child care is an economic driver for rural communities, but many Michigan communities are facing shortages of high quality child care.  First Children’s Finance’s RCCIP is a community engagement process designed to address the challenges of child care in rural America.

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The RCCIP is based on the fundamental idea that rural communities are greater than their size in numbers and greater than their current challenges. By mobilizing and empowering rural communities, the landscape of early care and education is changing in Michigan.

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Rural Michigan communities are invited to submit an application for the 2022-2023 cohort.  Applications will be accepted until the deadline of  December 9th at 5:00 PM EST. 

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Historically all RCCIP activities have been held in-person.  Due to the pandemic, we have developed systems to adapt the RCCIP process so it can be done in-person, virtually or a combination of both. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis by the local Core Team and First Children’s Finance staff dependent upon local health and safety regulations.]

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Please note that the Metro Detroit area, and the cities of Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, Lansing and individual child care business owners are excluded as applicants. Rural is defined as all population, housing, and territory not included within an urbanized area or urban cluster. A rural area’s population density is very low.

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Informational Webinar

Consider attending the informational webinar to learn more about the program and the benefits to participating communities:

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Informational Webinar

Consider attending the informational webinar to learn more about the program and the benefits to participating communities: Informational Webinar will be held on November 16th at noon EST. Register in advance at https://bit.ly/RCCIPinfo

 

Selected Communities

Communities selected to participate will be notified by e-mail by December 23, 2022.

 

Questions

If you have additional questions during the application process, please contact:

James Henderson at 248-270-0257 or JamesH@firstchildrensfinance.org.

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Online application is available on the desktop version of our website.

You can also request an application by filling out the form below.

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