Launched in November 2022, the Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement Fund is a grant program administered by IFF on behalf of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Learning, Achievement, and Potential (MiLEAP) that has distributed $59 million to new and expanding child care education providers across the State of Michigan to renovate and upgrade their child care facilities. With the funding, more than 1,100 home- and center-based facilities have undertaken more than 3,500 renovation and upgrade projects, expanding access to safe, quality, and affordable child care for Michigan families. Below, we’ve highlighted four child care providers that have benefited from the program, with before and after photos that highlight the impact of the grant funding.
Little Minds Learning Academy
Located in Bad Axe, MI, Little Minds Learning Academy is one of more than 1,100 new or expanding child care programs across the state of Michigan that received grant funds to repair, renovate, and improve its child care spaces.
Kayleen Allred, the academy’s director and lead teacher, says the approximately $150,000 in funding was crucial to opening the brand-new program with capacity for 30 children. Specifically, the funds were used to repair and upgrade the parking lot, all entrances into the center, and access points to the outdoor learning areas. Most notably, these areas now feature significantly increased ADA accessibility, making them safer and enjoyable for everyone.
“All of our students now have a wonderful, creative, safe, and natural playground so they can explore the outdoors year-round!” Allred says.
Shari’s Early Learning Center
Shari Marceau, the eponymous program director of Shari’s Early Learning Center in Marquette, MI, used her grant award to bring more of the outside into the lives of the children who attend the program. Renovations to a non-load-bearing wall and other line-of-sight improvements brought significantly more natural light into the learning spaces and allowed for more simultaneous observation.
“Now I can see the deck where the children play and the indoor space at the same time,” Marceau says. “That means if we are outside playing, I no longer need to make all the children go inside every time one of them needs to use the bathroom.” The approximately $50,000 grant award also allowed Marceau to make repairs in the kitchen that increased her food preparation capacity. Together with a more open floor plan, Marceau’s home-based program was able to expand from six children to seven.
Maple Street YMCA Early Learning and Summer Camp
Approximately $150,000 in grant funds helped completely overhaul and improve the Maple Street YMCA Early Learning and Summer Camp’s outdoor learning and play environments in Kalamazoo, MI. The area was regraded to address several potentially hazardous areas around the perimeter; grass and wood chips were replaced with safer, more long-lasting rubber surfaces; and new structures were installed. The improvements allowed Maple Street to increase its capacity from 40 children to 55.
“This project completely upgraded the outdoor experience for our school-age children. They now have safer play spaces and age-appropriate equipment to enjoy the outdoors. We were also able to improve the accessibility of our early learning outdoor space,” says Bobby Ludwick, vice president of Youth Services and Grants. “Being outside is a major component of our program and now we have a safe, accessible space for children to enjoy. Our mission includes programs ‘for all’ and this project allowed us to put our words into action.”
Kid’s University
Located in Auburn, MI, Kid’s University used approximately $131,000 to transform unused and underutilized space into safe and welcoming environments for children and families. New and additional cribs, adult seating, and a changing table accommodate an increased number of infants and toddlers. Updated bathrooms, flooring, and kitchen equipment and cleaning appliances improved and increased access to quality care for children and staff. New shelving and storage further opened more room for the center and the people who count on it.
“This grant allowed us to increase the number of infants and toddlers we could care for in our community from 18 to 44 and increased our total capacity from 60 to 104 children,” says Owner Sheri Dufrense. “To help care for the children, we increased from 12 caregivers to 25. That’s more jobs for our community and more families who can count on quality care. That means a lot to us.”