LANSING - Today the superintendents of the Kalamazoo, Branch, and St. Joseph intermediate school districts will join board members of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation and local legislators to celebrate grants for local "Great Start" collaboratives that will strengthen early childhood development and care in southwest Michigan.

Michigan Department of Human Services director Marianne Udow and ECIC chief operating officer Mike Foley will present ceremonial checks to by Dr. Craig Misner of Kalamazoo County RESA, Michael Beckwith of the Branch ISD, and Dr. Jay Newman of the St. Joseph County ISD.

From the day she took office, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has maintained that early childhood development and care is a critical investment in the economic viability of the state.

"Children learn more from birth to age three than at any other time, setting the stage for future success in school and in life," Granholm said. "High-quality early childhood development and care is a wise investment in our children and our economy."

The Early Childhood Investment Corporation, which the Governor announced in her 2005 State of the State address, is developing the framework for effective early childhood development and care programs through partnerships with local collaboratives around the state. The local "Great Start" collaboratives will conduct a community assessment and develop a strategic plan for the development of a comprehensive system of early childhood services and supports, accessible to all children from birth to kindergarten and their families.

"These grants will help bring together the public and private sectors, including government, business, civic, faith, education, and community groups to develop a long-standing, sustained focus on early learning and childhood development," said Mike Foley. "The board was able to award this first round of grants with the resources currently available, and is committed to funding Great Start Collaboratives throughout the state as new funding sources are identified."

Intermediate school districts will act as fiduciaries for the grants. The St. Joseph County ISD will receive a $90,000 Great Start Collaborative grant; the Kalamazoo RESA will receive a $60,000 planning grant; and the Branch ISD will receive a $50,000 planning grant. Eleven other ISDs and RESAs around the state were also awarded funding for planning and/or implementation of Great Start Collaboratives.

"Children who participate in high-quality early childhood development programs are better prepared to enter elementary school, are more likely to pursue secondary education and have lower dropout rates and higher high school graduation rates," DHS Director Marianne Udow said. "By improving the skills of a large fraction of the workforce, these programs for poor children will reduce poverty and strengthen the state’s ability to compete in the global market."