You can apply for a child care license from the State of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

To renew or apply for a new a child care license visit: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cclb/providers/application

Download the LARA Resource Guide to Child Care licensure in Michigan here: Need to link the PDF (PDF named Resource Guide to Licensure found here )

To learn more visit https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cclb

Opening a child care center? This Business Plan is a short document that will help you define your program and think through things like your expenses and your potential income.

Need to link the PDF (PDF named Business Plan- Short Form) 

The Child Development Associate Credential (CDA®) is a national credential for early educators working in a variety of settings with children ages birth to 5 years old and their families to demonstrate the early educator’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in the early childhood education field. The program is designed to assess and credential early childhood education professionals using multiple sources of evidence, including an exam, observation, and a professional portfolio. By earning a CDA credential in any of the settings below, an educator demonstrates a commitment to career advancement and professionalism:

Center-Based Infant-Toddler

Work with children ages birth to 36 months: The Infant-Toddler center-based setting is a state-approved child development center where a candidate can be observed working with a group of at least 3 children ages birth through 36 months, with at least one of the sub-groups. The program must have at least 10 children enrolled, not necessarily in the candidate’s group, and at least two early educators working with the children on a regular basis.

Center-Based Preschool

Work with children ages 3 to 5 years old: The Preschool center-based setting is a state- approved child development center where a candidate can be observed working with at least 8 children, all of whom are ages 3 to 5 years. The program must have at least 10 children enrolled, not necessarily in the candidate’s group, and at least two early educators working with the children on a regular basis.

Family Child Care

Work with children ages birth to 5 years: A Family Child Care setting is a family child care home where a candidate can be observed working with at least two children 5 years old or younger who are not related to the candidate by blood or marriage. The setting must meet at least the minimum level of applicable state and/or local regulations. Family Child Care settings are also eligible in localities where there is no regulation of family child care.

If you are interested in obtaining your CDA, please contact Allyson D. Andrews, Business Forward’s Child Care Industry Specialist at childcare@oaklandthrive.org or 248-931-7697 in order to be connected with a CDA training organization.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious meals and snacks to infants and children as a regular part of their day care. A variety of public or private nonprofit child care centers, Head Start programs, outside-school-hours care centers, and other institutions which are licensed or approved to provide day care services participate in CACFP. For-profit centers that serve lower income children may also be eligible. CACFP reimburses centers at free, reduced-price, or paid rates for eligible meals and snacks served to enrolled children, targeting benefits to those children most in need. For more information visit https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/food/cacfp

CEED Lending

An initiative of the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council (WBC). Providing business expansion and start-up financing to small business loans in the following nine southeast Michigan counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Livingston, and Washtenaw. For more information visit https://www.greatlakeswbc.org/ceed-lending 

Ascendus

Ascendus provides business expansion financing and small business loans. For more information visit https://www.ascendus.org/products