County invests nearly $9 million in its youngest children
Photo credit: First Steps Kent, Isabel Media Studios
Thousands of young children and families across Kent County will have greater access to programs and services that support healthy beginnings, developmental growth, early learning, and connections to resources through a new round of Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage funding.
Funding totaling $8,746,833 will be distributed to 26 community-based organizations operating 36 programs from October 2026–September 2027. Together, these investments strengthen the early childhood system across Kent County and support children and families from pregnancy through the early learning years.
This year’s funding process included several changes designed to broaden participation and strengthen community voice. First Steps Kent made the application process more accessible to small and newer organizations, recognizing that organizations with deep community relationships and lived experience may not always have the capacity or history to navigate traditional grant processes.
This year’s investments focus on four areas of impact:
Born Healthy: Supporting healthy beginnings from pregnancy through a child’s first year.
Developmentally On Track: Supporting children’s healthy development and well-being.
Early Learning: Expanding access to high-quality early learning and care.
Accessible Resources: Helping families find and access the supports they need.
“Every family’s path through early childhood looks different,” said Jennifer Headley-Nordman, President of First Steps Kent. “Our job is to make sure families can find support that meets them where they are, while investing in the organizations and relationships that make those supports possible.”
First Steps Kent convenes a Resident Proposal Review Board as part of its role administering the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage. This year, the board included community members with lived experience and expertise in early childhood and met in June to review funding proposals and make recommendations. Those recommendations were then reviewed and approved by the First Steps Kent Board of Commissioners in July before being presented to the Kent County Board of Commissioners, which approved the funding.
The following organizations received Ready by Five funding for 2026–27:
Born Healthy providers—Cherry Health, Corewell Health, Grace’s Table, Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan, Kent County Health Department, Michigan Breastfeeding Network, and MomsBloom—were awarded a total of $2,535,985.
Developmentally On Track providers—Arbor Circle, Bethany Christian Services, Corewell Health, D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s, Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, Exalta Health, Family Futures, Family Promise, Heart of West Michigan United Way, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Kent ISD, Literacy Center of West Michigan, Safe Haven Ministries, Vibrant Futures, and YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids—were awarded a total of $3,632,447.
Early Learning providers—Grand Rapids Community College, Kent ISD, and Vibrant Futures—were awarded a total of $679,126.
Accessible Resources providers—Arbor Circle, Family Futures, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Kent ISD, MomsBloom, Voices for Health, and West Michigan Asian American Association—were awarded a total of $1,915,500.
“This investment reflects Kent County’s continued commitment to giving every child the opportunity for a healthy start,” said Al Vanderberg, Kent County Administrator. “By supporting trusted community organizations and making services easier for families to access, Ready by Five is helping build a stronger future for our children and our entire community.”
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