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To The Citizens of Dickinson & Iron Counties,
We have been granted an opportunity to change the future for our youngest citizens and their families. The Great Start initiative was launched by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2004 to assure a coordinated system of community resources to help all Michigan families with children from birth to age five. The Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation was subsequently established, and is developing the framework for effective early childhood development and care programs through partnerships with local collaboratives around the state.
In announcing the creation of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, the Governor emphasized a key aspect of the program:
“Commitment from major stakeholders in the business community will be a centerpiece of the program. We want to demonstrate that early childhood education is a critical investment in the economic viability of the state.”
In March of 2006, Dickinson and Iron Counties were one of only fourteen communities to receive a grant from Michigan’s Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) to launch a local Great Start initiative to strengthen early childhood development and care locally. Since that time, the Early Childhood Investment Corporation has funded additional Great Start Collaborative projects across Michigan with plans to continue the expansion of this important initiative.The goal of the Great Start system is for all Michigan children to enter kindergarten safe, healthy, and eager to succeed in school and in life.
The Dickinson-Iron Great Start Collaborative (DIGSC) is the local planning and decision-making body for the Great Start system. The DIGSC has conducted an early childhood system assessment based on the Great Start Components, and has developed this Strategic Plan based on the findings of the system assessment. The members of the DIGSC through their signatures on this letter have indicated their approval of the content of this Strategic Plan, as well as their continued support for the implementation of the plan in Dickinson and Iron Counties.
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