The Child Care Innovation Fund: An initiative to reimagine child care and accelerate impact.
Michigan’s child care sector is in crisis — and new business and financing models for early childhood providers are crucial for supporting both Michigan families and our economy.
With the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC)’s Child Care Innovation Fund, common-sense business and financing solutions are available for child care.
The current situation
44%
of Michiganders live in a child care desert, where there are more than 3 children per every available licensed child care space.1
1%
of the child care workforce earns enough to support the average family size in Michigan (one adult, one preschooler, one school-aged child).2
-$2.88 Billion
cost to Michigan in lost economic activity each year due to insufficient child care availability.3
Innovative Solutions
Current Projects
Learn more about the important, innovative work currently underway in support of the Child Care Innovation Fund’s priorities.
Competitive Funding Opportunities
Early Care and Education Municipal Financing Strategies Technical Assistance RFP
ECIC’s Child Care Innovation Fund is now accepting proposals from qualified vendors to identify examples of successful municipal financing strategies to support sustainability planning for Michigan’s Early Childhood Educator Wage Initiative, develop technical assistance resources for use by ECIC and Michigan’s Regional Child Care Coalitions (RCCCs), provide consultation to RCCCs, and facilitate a half-day event to share what has been learned and help RCCCs embed viable strategies into required planning activities.
Qualified vendors include those with deep experience and expertise helping local organizations or municipalities launch and grow sustainable financial models. While experience aligning municipal-level work with ECE supply building and/or ECE workforce initiatives is preferred, applicants with backgrounds in economic development, community development finance, corporate social responsibility, and/or other workforce initiatives are encouraged to submit proposals.
Key Dates:
- RFP Open: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
- Questions Due: Thursday, April 15, 2026 by 5:00pm EDT
- RFP Closes: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 5:00pm EDT
Questions regarding this competitive funding opportunity may be directed via email to technicalassistance@ecic4kids.org.
Our Impact
Access reports, webinars, and other resources developed by the Child Care Innovation Fund.
Access a complete list of investments made since the Fund’s founding.
Our priorities to propel change
The Child Care Innovation Fund’s five priority areas are designed to benefit employers, working families, child care business owners and early educators.
Create Synergy Between the Economic and Child Care Sectors
Advance child care as essential community infrastructure for economic growth and development, business productivity, and school readiness.
Improve Compensation and On-the-Job Supports
Improve the wages, benefits, on-the-job supports, and professional learning early educators need to help children learn.
Build Supply
Accelerate the start-up and expansion of licensed child care businesses in areas with more than three children under age five for every licensed child care slot.
Collaborate With Employers
Collaborate on child care solutions with employers to improve the productivity, recruitment, and retention of their working families.
Strengthen Child Care Businesses
Increase the economic viability and sustainability of child care businesses.
Contact Us
Joan Blough
Senior Director, Child Care Innovation Fund