Strong Child Care. A Stronger Workforce. A Stronger Northeast Michigan.
Child care isn't only a family issue. It's a workforce and economic-development issue.
When families have access to reliable child care options that allow parents to choose what works best for their family, parents are better able to participate in the workforce, businesses can recruit and retain employees, and communities are better positioned for long-term economic growth. Target Alpena Development Corporation works with businesses, child care providers, families, and regional partners to strengthen the child care ecosystem across Northeast Michigan.
Child Care Is Economic Infrastructure
Reliable child care plays an important role in the strength of Northeast Michigan's workforce and business community.
When child care is unavailable, unaffordable, or unreliable, the impact extends beyond individual families. Employees may miss work, reduce their hours, leave the workforce, or turn down employment opportunities. For employers, those challenges can affect attendance, recruitment, retention, productivity, and growth.
Childcare
Access to reliable childcare
Workforce Participation
Parents can work and contribute
Employee Retention
Stronger, more stable workforce
stronger Businesses
Businesses can grow and thrive.
Economic Growth
A stronger Northeast Michigan
Child Care by the numbers
Child care challenges have measurable consequences for Michigan families, employers, and the economy. Lost work, employee turnover, absenteeism, and barriers to workforce participation result in billions of dollars in economic impact each year.
60%
of Michigan parents with young children are in the worforce.
$2.9 billion
Estimated annual economic loss in Michigan due to child care challenges
1 in 3
Michigan families report having difficulty finding affordable and reliable childcare.
54%
turned down a job or promotion due to lack of child care.
$576 million
Estimated annual economic loss in Michigan due to child care challenges
73%
of business owners report difficulty in hiring employees due to lack of childcare
*Sources: Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity, Michigan League for Public Policy.
Why Child Care Matters to Northeast Michigan
Child care impacts far more than the families who use it. Like other essential community infrastructure, access to reliable child care helps people participate in the workforce, supports stronger businesses and a stronger economy, and contributes to the resources, services, and infrastructure that shape quality of life across Michigan.
Workforce Participation
Helping parents enter, return to, and remain in the workforce.
Recruitment & Retention
Helping employers attract workers and retain valuable employees.
Business Growth
Supporting the dependable workforce businesses need to operate and expand.
Family Stability
Giving working families greater stability as they balance employment and child care.
Community Vitality
Supporting communities where families can live, work, and build their futures.
Talent Attraction
Strengthening Northeast Michigan's ability to attract and retain workers and families.
Infrastructure & Quality of Life
Supporting essential infrastructure, natural resources, and Michigan’s quality of life.
When child care works, Northeast Michigan works.
Areas of Service
Target Alpena’s child care initiatives serve communities across Northeast Michigan, including:
Alcona
Alpena
Cheboygan
Crawford
Iosco
Montmorency
Ogemaw
Oscoda
Otsego
Presque Isle
and Roscommon counties.
Child Care Providers Are Small Business Owners
Running a child care program means running a business. As a child care provider, you’re also an entrepreneur managing operations, finances, employees, growth, and the day-to-day challenges that come with owning a small business.
Target Alpena connects child care providers with resources designed to support them as business owners, including Ask an Expert, which provides access to professional guidance on human resources and legal questions.
Sunrise Side Regional Child Care Coalition
Child care is a regional challenge that affects all of us—and everyone has a role to play in building a stronger child care system. Whether you’re a parent, child care provider, employer, small business, community organization, or regional partner, your voice and involvement matter.
By working together, we can address the child care challenges facing Northeast Michigan and help build solutions that strengthen families, our workforce, businesses, and communities. Get involved today by joining the Sunrise Side Regional Child Care Coalition and become part of the regional effort to strengthen child care across Northeast Michigan.