Barbara Berens

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/10/friendly-zoning-talent-pipelines-how-west-michigan-can-address-its-child-care-shortage.html

NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                  FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 15, 2024 West Michigan regional childcare plan guides strategic efforts to boost workforce participation and economic growth Childcare business owner research reveals TOP 5 improvements to accelerate growth  GRAND RAPIDS – For the five-county region of Barry, Kent, Ionia, Mecosta, and Montcalm counties, a new regional plan outlines recommendations to

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2023          Contact: press@michigan.gov Gov. Whitmer Announces Grants to Help Communities Expand Access to Low or No-Cost Child Care Investments will benefit children, families, and small businesses in 81 counties, every region LANSING, MI. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that 16 organizations serving Michiganders in 81 counties are receiving $2.4

PRESS RELEASE                                                                          Contact: Barbara Berens, March 13, 2023                                                                                                Vibrant Futures                                                                                                                      451-8281, ext. 227   Childcare Shortage Choking Michigan Growth The Right Place and Vibrant Futures Plan Regional Expansion   As Michigan tackles several complex challenges constraining workforce participation and growth, two unlikely partners are teaming up with a simple, straightforward, and strategic fix:

We are facing a child care crisis.  Limited availability, low wages and lack of staff are crushing the child care industry.  Parents are struggling to afford quality care and there is a lack of available care in many areas of Michigan.  WZZM 13’s Meredith TerHaar takes a look at the crisis and it’s affect on

FEBRUARY 22, 2022 For Immediate Release Vibrant Futures Selected to Lead Governor’s Expansion of Tri-Share Program in Kent County Aimed at Improving Child Care Affordability for Families Grand Rapids, Michigan (February 21, 2022) Governor Whitmer announced the MI Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program expansion to include Vibrant Futures as Kent County’s innovation lead and new “facilitator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Barbara Berens Development & Special Projects Manager barbarab@vibrantfuturesmi.org 616.451.8281 x227   Local Non-Profit to Ensure More Children are Ready for School through Partnerships with Parents and Families Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage awards $608,000 to Vibrant Futures (Grand Rapids, Mich., January 27, 2022) The families in Kent County will be

As the conversation continues looking at why Normal Was Never Enough, today we examine pathways to building a more equitable child care system. Our guest today on By Leaps & Bounds is Chana Edmond-Verley, CEO, Vibrant Futures and Vice-Chair, Great Start Collaborative of Kent County. Listen Here

As part of our “You Matter” Campaign by Vibrant Futures take a look at the Amplifying Voices of the Child Care Sector. This month marked one of the biggest wins for families with young children, child care owners, operators and professionals in Michigan with the signing of the State Budget. Child Care providers’ voices helped shape Michigan’s investments in a