The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential- MiLEAP and Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District have launched a $16 million Early Childhood Educator Wage Initiative, providing monthly stipends to Early Childhood educators to address workforce challenges and promote wage stability. The program will be implemented by ten Regional Child Care Coalitions, each eligible to receive to $1.6 million. Eight coalitions are already recommended for funding. Running until September 2027, grantees will recruit businesses, distribute funds, collect data, and support quality improvement. More details are on the MiLEAP Office of Early Education webpage.