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From Governor
Granholm's State of the State address, February 8, 2005 (distributed by
Steve Manchester, Public Policy Specialist, MiAEYC)
THE EARLY CHILDHOOD INVESTMENT CORPORATION
In the written version of her State of the State address, Governor
Granholm unveiled an early childhood initiative called the "Early
Childhood Investment Corporation" (ECIC). It's common practice for a
Governor not to say everything contained in the written document even
though that document is released to the public. In the speech she
delivered, Governor Granholm did not mention the ECIC. However, the ECIC
language is contained in the official version of her speech displayed on
her website at:
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168--110164--,00.html.
Some newspaper accounts gave the ECIC a little play, obviously based on
reading the speech before it was delivered. We can consider the ECIC a
commitment by the Governor because she is keeping it in the State of the
State as presented on her website. We must recognize, of course, that
Michigan's continuing fiscal problems will affect how Michigan implements
the ECIC. You might want to send the Governor a note thanking her for her
continuing commitment to early childhood matters and offering to help with
this new initiative. Contact her at
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21995-65331--,00.html.
Please find below Granholm's ECIC comments as taken from her website.
"We will also create new opportunities this year for our youngest learners
– our children in the first five years of life. Too many of these children
today fall off the path to success in education long before they enter
kindergarten. This year, we will bring new resources to bear on early
childhood education and care in Michigan through the creation of the Early
Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC). This unique public/private entity
will consolidate state early childhood efforts and tap the resources of
the private sector to make sure the hours our children spend in child care
are hours spent learning and growing. We have already begun this work by
overhauling the child care regulations so that day care centers become
places of active learning, not just babysitting. If the MEDC is our job
growth agency, the ECIC will be our brain growth agency.
"Many of Michigan’s leading businesses and foundations have come to see
the money we spend on early childhood education as one of the best
investments we can make in Michigan’s future. By establishing the Early
Childhood Investment Corporation, we will boost that investment and make
sure it pays off for our state."
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