MiLEAP Partners with the Small Business Association of Michigan to Expand Benefits Access for Child Care Professionals
$4.4 million investment will provide access to health, life and retirement benefits for child care employees statewide, strengthen Michigan’s early childhood workforce
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), in partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), today announced a $4.4 million investment to pilot Nurture Benefits, a new program designed to expand access to essential workforce benefits—including health, life and retirement options—for child care professionals across the state. The program aims to grow and stabilize Michigan’s early childhood workforce by making it easier for child care providers to attract and retain career professionals.
“Child care professionals are the workforce behind the workforce,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “This pilot recognizes their value and responds to a long-standing need, helping ensure those who nurture our youngest learners have access to the essential benefits that support career growth and security.”
The program builds on the state’s continued progress in strengthening early childhood systems and reflects MiLEAP’s commitment to ensuring that all children have access to safe, high-quality care while uplifting the professionals who provide it and the working families who rely on it. The program is funded through a larger $33 million federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal (PDG B-5) grant investment awarded to Michigan by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Expanding access to safe, high-quality, and affordable child care in Michigan begins with supporting the people who make it possible,” said Emily Laidlaw, deputy director of Early Education at MiLEAP. “This pilot program empowers child care providers to build strong, dedicated teams while creating a dependable early learning system that Michigan families can count on for years to come.”
“Access to affordable health, life, and retirement benefits is one of the biggest barriers facing child care professionals—and it’s a barrier that directly impacts Michigan’s small businesses,” said Brian Calley, SBAM President & CEO. “When child care providers can offer robust employee benefits, they’re better able to attract and retain staff, which in turn helps working parents stay in the workforce. Through this partnership, we’re proud to support the people who make it possible for small businesses to thrive.”
Administered by SBAM, the Nurture Benefits pilot will allow licensed child care employers to apply on behalf of their facilities to offer benefits to employees. The program will be available to any licensed or license-exempt child care provider in Michigan working 30 hours or more per week. Open enrollment is expected to begin in fall 2025, with benefits effective starting January 1, 2026.
For more information about the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal (PDG B-5) and MiLEAP’s efforts to advance early childhood education in Michigan, visit MiLEAP’s Office of Early Education webpage.
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About MiLEAP:
Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from preschool to postsecondary so anyone can ‘make it in Michigan’ with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to Michigan.gov/MiLEAP.
About the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)
The Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) is a statewide association focused on the success of Michigan’s small businesses. We have been serving the small business community since 1969. Today we serve over 33,000 members across all 83 counties in Michigan; these members come to us for advocacy and business resources. Our diverse array of membership includes small businesses in all industries, including over 200 in the childcare provider sector.