Great Lakes Wire

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced that $1 million was awarded to the Battle Creek Community Foundation and Wayne Metro Community Action Agency.

“By investing $1 million into the Children’s Savings Account pilot program, we are expanding opportunities and improving outcomes for Michigan’s children," Whitmer said in a press release from her office this week. “Children’s savings accounts offer an exciting platform to help families build wealth and pay for educational expenses, including extracurricular activities that are critical to a child’s development. We will continue working with our philanthropic partners to build children’s saving account pilot programs in urban and rural regions of Michigan and keep finding ways to empower every Michigander to chase their potential.”

The two Children’s Savings Account (CSA) pilot programs will each be receiving $500,000 grants, the release said. The Battle Creek Community Foundation will create CSAs for Harper Creek Community Schools and Pennfield Schools, two underserved school districts. Wayne Metro Community Action Agency is creating CSAs for students in 14 Wayne Metro Head Start spots, along with Renaissance Head Start and Urban Neighborhood Initiative out-of-school programs. The agency’s goal is to create 1,600 CSA accounts.

“The Battle Creek College Access Network and the Battle Creek Community Foundation are very excited about this award,” Annette Chapman, senior vice president and executive director of the Battle Creek College Access Network, said in the release. “This opportunity will allow us to continue to grow a college-going culture in our community, particularly for those students who live in more rural school districts. Encouraging students and their families to save for post-secondary education sends a message that college can be a reality. Knowing they have a community that supports them, believes in them and invests in them is also critical to their success. Thank you to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity!”

Both organizations will be matching the grant funds in an effort to create CSA programs that are meant to meet the needs of families and their communities. This is part of the effort by the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan to create a children’s savings account program that will benefit Michigan families.

“Battle Creek Community Foundation and Wayne Metro Community Action Agency have solid plans to execute the children’s savings account seed money through philanthropy and partnerships that will help Michigan families grow their future savings,” Kim Trent, Poverty Task Force lead and deputy director prosperity for the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said in the release.