Michigan has a great opportunity to invest in early childhood (guest commentary)
22.02.12
By Lew Chamberlin
In the coming year, Michigan has an historic opportunity to move forward by ensuring all Michigan children arrive at kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed.
While Michigan has begun to turn itself around, the state still have one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates and per capita income is among the 10 poorest states. If the Michigan economy were to grow at its current rate, it would be 2025 before the state could replace the jobs lost from 2001 through 2009, according to a calculation by Public Sector Consultants.
Clearly, a new and bold commitment is needed to build the educated and skilled workforce that can lead Michigan back down the path of prosperity. That path begins with our youngest children, our future workforce.
As a member of the Children’s Leadership Council of Michigan, made up of business leaders from across the state, I am heartened by projections of surpluses in the state government’s general fund and school aid fund for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
Source: The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com