Appropriations Requests for

• Cosponsoring legislators' names (if applicable):
• Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:
  23750 David Eastpointe, MI 48021
• The recipient's employer identification number:
  386002520
• Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:
  $25,000,000.00
• What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?
  While birth rates across Michigan continue to decline, South Macomb County is defying this trend with birth rate increases. This growth indicates that targeted investment in Metro Detroit — particularly in early childhood education — will yield the greatest long-term impact for the state. Since opening in 2017, the Eastpointe Early Learning Center has experienced consistent growth. They began with two Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) classrooms, one tuition-based three-year-old program, and two Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms. Today, the center has increased service to the community by almost 200% in 9 years to include: ● A licensed daycare serving families from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ● Five full-day GSRP classrooms serving more than 90 students ● Three Head Start classrooms ● Seven ECSE sections serving 68 students ● Walk-in speech services for 35 preschool-aged children in the community Additionally, due to space restrictions at the existing Early Learning Center, ECS has a Head Start classroom located in two of their elementary schools, reflecting an increased demand for preschool capacity within the community. A new facility would allow ECS to expand to 23 classrooms, effectively doubling their capacity to serve the community with high-quality early learning programs. In alignment with their strategic plan, this expansion also supports the growth of Career and Technical Education. As part of this work, Eastpointe High School is developing an education-focused CTE pathway that would align with the Early Learning Center, providing students hands-on experience and strengthening the future teacher pipeline. The existing early learning center is housed in a former elementary school built in 1956 and is no longer sufficient to meet growing demand and the unique nature and needs of the youngest learners. Eastpointe Community Schools is well positioned to leverage this investment by expanding high-quality early childhood programming that vertically aligns with and feeds directly into their K–12 system. Funding for a new Early Learning Center would accelerate ESC's ability to meet community demand, expand early childhood access, and advance their PreK–12 vision. This investment would position Eastpointe as a regional leader in early learning while supporting workforce participation, educational equity, and long-term economic vitality.
• Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?
• If so, how?
• Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:
  January 2027-January 2028
• Has the nonprofit corporation continuously operated in this state for the preceding 36 months?
  No
• Has the nonprofit corporation had a physical office in this state for not less than the preceding 12 consecutive months?
  No
• Does the nonprofit corporation have a board of directors?
  No
• List all of the officers and active members on the board of directors:

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator