A big boost is on the way for the Early Learning Center on Ferris State’s campus.

After securing a set of funds over two million dollars through the CCAMPIS grant application, the group will be able to make many beneficial gains. This includes receiving subsidization for student parent childcare costs.said.

With the grant also allows a new opportunity to hire more staff, including a new supporting position the center has never had before: a Family Support Specialist.

“This person's role would be to support those students’ families and help them connect with resources,” Johnson said.

The current Early Learning Center is located on the west side of campus attached to the heavily utilized Bishop Hall. With the former dorm and office building set to be demolished in the near future, the center will be receiving a new, 80-person capacity building located directly next to their old building that could hold 59. According to Johnson, the organization is very grateful to be receiving the home after enduring the tough economic challenges laid over from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re in the midst of breaking ground Friday the 18th. We’ve been very luck to receive the state
stabilization grants over the past year, so that has helped keep our operation going.”

This new funding, along with more money coming from the state of Michigan, will help the center
tremendously towards their goal of supporting college and community student parents with the best
resource possible.

“Our primary focus is to support them by providing their children with quality childcare experiences, so that they can concentrate on their studies and degree completion,” Johnson said. “We also are a lab site for some of the early childhood programs on campus.”