Interested in supporting early childhood educators in your area?

Networks Northwest coordinates the region's Early Education Wage Initiative to strengthen the child care system by increasing take-home pay for early childhood educators employed in licensed child care programs throughout the region. Participating early childhood educators receive monthly stipends of $200 (part-time) or $300 (full-time). During the initial funding phase (January 2026 - August 2027), the Wage Initiative will test and evaluate how increased wages influence retention, workforce stability and well-being, while also identifying sustainable funding models that can continue beyond the initial investment.

Reach out to Networks Northwest to learn how you can help build a sustainable, stable early childhood workforce by boosting compensation for early childhood educators.
 

Early Educators

The Wage Initiative is currently underway, and Networks Northwest is not accepting new applications at this time. Future opportunities for participation will be communicated directly to eligible licensed child care programs.
 

Current Participants

Policies and Program Guidance

Share your feedback: Launching a program like the Early Education Wage Initiative always results in lessons learned. If you have participated in the Region 2 Wage Initiative, please take a moment to anonymously share your feedback to help improve the program. Thank you! 

Participant Feedback
 

Contact Us

Email Norika Kida Betti.
 

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) received $30 million in state school aid funds to strengthen the early childhood workforce, of which $16 million supports the Wage Initiative through Michigan’s 10 Regional Child Care Coalitions (RCCCs). The Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District (GOISD) serves as the fiscal agent, partnering with MiLEAP to administer the program statewide. In Michigan Prosperity Region 2, the program is administered by Networks Northwest.