MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette County Childcare Coalition continued to discuss their launch of the Childcare Business Lab Pilot on Thursday, January 26th. They are partnering with Marquette-Alger RESA, Great Start to Quality, and Lake Superior Community Partnership to address the needs in childcare within the community.
The Coalition’s work found that some childcare openings impede many parents from returning to work or that some childcare workers don’t earn family-sustaining wages.
“We’re looking at creating a network of home-based care centers”, said Consultant Linda Fowler.
The Marquette County Board of Commissioners approved the funding of $100,000 on October 4th by The American Rescue Plan Act, going towards the Childcare Coalition Pilot Program.
“LSCP has hired someone to operate the program once it’s up and running. Our goal right now is to open applications in march”, said LSCP CEO Christopher Germain.
“That way we can address gaps in certain geographies so there may be for example on the west end there might be a gap that we can fill by adding one or two or three of those homes”, said Linda Fowler.
Officials with the coalition say the goal is to bring a potentially home-based provider to help with closing the gap in affordable childcare. The organizations are still in the program design phase, however, applications for the new initiative are said to be available in March.
