Kellogg Foundation spending billions on childhood development, including in Michigan

Over the years, the nonprofit W.K. Kellogg Foundation has invested $9 billion globally — including $1.6 billion in Michigan.

At the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference, the foundation’s Director of Michigan Programs Faye Nelson spoke to WDET about the goals of the organization and its history.

The Kellogg Foundation is working with the Michigan Women’s Commission for the Tri-Share Pilot Program.

“It essentially provides working families who are struggling with the opportunity to access and afford childcare by providing funding support,” Nelson says. “So the family paying a third of the cost of childcare has been really important in getting more families access to childcare, more folks back into the workforce.”

During the policy conference, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her new ‘Growing Michigan Together Council’ that aims to attract and retain young talent in the state.

Read: Whitmer, Benson, McMorrow discuss Michigan’s stagnant population, early voting, more

Nelson says childcare is a critically important foundation to establish for children, families and communities.

“Think about a young family if they don’t have access to early childcare [and] quality education,” Nelson says. “Why do they want to stay or how are you attracting folks to a state like a great state of Michigan, if you know the the childcare issues are are challenging?”

Listen to the interview in its entirety using the media player above.