Michigan legislators have launched a probe into a childcare provider reportedly receiving over $1.1 million in state-funded childcare reimbursements amid suspicions it isn’t operating at its declared location.
The spotlight is on 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare based in Clinton Township. This inquiry has been initiated by the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on State & Local Public Assistance Programs.
An investigative report reveals that this institution was granted $1,121,641 from the Child Development & Care (CDC) Program over the fiscal years 2023 through 2026. However, committee staff noted that repeated inspections of the site yielded no signs of childcare activities at the registered location.
The facility’s address is listed as 39781 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, but according to investigators, this site is occupied by Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, a daycare whose state license is currently marked as closed.
Michigan legislators are scrutinizing whether a childcare center that benefited from over $1.1 million in state reimbursements was actually functioning at its recorded address. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
Investigators also said they were unable to locate an active childcare license for 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare.
Committee staff said they also attempted to contact the daycare during advertised business hours but were unable to reach anyone, with all calls ending at an answering service.
During a June 12 site visit, committee staff reported finding the building locked despite being open during advertised business hours. Investigators said lights were on inside but no staff or children were visible.
Lawmakers said the facility’s outdoor play area appeared unused during a June site visit. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
A nearby business tenant told investigators they had never seen children at the location, though they reported occasionally seeing construction activity.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jason Woolford conducted his own visit on June 15. According to the report, no one answered the front door despite repeated knocking.
Investigators said Woolford found an outdoor play area consisting of a fenced-in asphalt lot with grass growing through the pavement, an old playhouse pushed against the building and chairs stacked outside filled with rainwater.
Committee investigators said they found no evidence that children were being cared for at the daycare’s listed address during multiple site visits. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
The report also said a rear door was unlocked, but no one responded after Woolford called inside.
Employees at a neighboring café told Woolford they had never seen children enter the facility.
According to the committee, Premier Early Childhood Education Partners LLC is a Chicago-based company that owns and operates several legitimate childcare facilities in Michigan.
The report states that one of those entities, Premier MI Network Clinton Twp, does business as 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare and received approximately $1.12 million in CDC reimbursements between fiscal years 2023 and 2026.
The oversight committee said its investigation remains ongoing, and no criminal charges have been announced.
News Media has reached out to Premier Early Childhood Education Partners for comment.