February 12, 2026
More than 200 childhood educators in Southwest Michigan began receiving monthly wage supplements last month, thanks to $1.6 million grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential and the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.
The grant, awarded to Pulse at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, is part of Michigan’s broader $16 million Early Childhood Educator Wage Initiative, aimed at strengthening the child care workforce and promoting long-term wage stability.
Through an application process, 152 full-time and 64 part-time educators from 33 child care centers in Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass and Kalamazoo Counties were awarded the stipend, which will continue through August 2027.
The initiative provides:
• $300/month for full-time early educators
• $200/month for part-time early educators
According to Maria Ortiz Borden, Pulse co-executive director, the initiative is part of a larger strategy to address Michigan’s ongoing child care crisis by tackling issues such as low pay, limited career advancement, and high turnover—factors that directly impact the quality and consistency of early learning.
“Ninety-eight percent of all occupations are compensated more than child care workers,” Ortiz Borden said. “Child care is infrastructure and should be funded that way. This wage boost isn’t going to solve the problem, but it will bring temporary relief to those who need it most.”
Pulse oversaw the application process and handles distribution of funds as well as data collection for evaluation and quality improvement efforts across the region.
“Investing in early educators is investing in the future of our communities,” Ortiz Borden added. “This initiative is one step toward creating a more stable, supported, and valued child care workforce. We anticipate the total number and distribution numbers will fluctuate as more funding is made available and/or needs change”
Pulse, part of the W.E. Upjohn Institute’s Center for Workforce Innovation and Solutions (CWIS), works to strengthen early childhood systems through data-driven strategies, research-based solutions, and collaborative partnerships that improve childcare access, workforce development, and policy innovation. More information is available at pulseroadmap.org.
The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Since 1945, the Institute has conducted research on labor markets and workforce issues. Through its Center for Workforce Innovation and Solutions (CWIS), the Institute delivers workforce services in Southwest Michigan to expand opportunities for workers and employers. Through collaborative partnerships and a comprehensive, intersectional approach, CWIS strives to develop and implement high quality services and systemic changes that result in positive impacts for both workers and employers.