Watch ABC12's coverage of the event.

Developing early and thorough learning programs

By Marc Jacobson
August 12, 2008

FLINT (WJRT) -- The building blocks for a strong community and workforce are found in the classroom, and quite often, at an early age.

Several Mid-Michigan educators and business leaders gathered to discuss that topic this morning.

As ABC12's Marc Jacobson tells us, it's not all about what you've learned, it's about how early the educational process begins.

The path toward a successful career and economy, according to experts, is high-quality education from the very beginning.

Several Genesee County organizations are teaming up to deliver that message. "To have these relationships like today between the Priority Children and GISD and the Genesee Regional Chamber is very important to the progress of this community," Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce President Tim Herman said.

Genesee County has 30,000 children under the age of 5. Making sure that they're ready for kindergarten is key.

"All of those kids are the future workforce, and we want them to be healthy, going to school, ready to learn," Priority Children Director Gail Stimson said.

Priority Children is calling for the education process to start from day one. That responsibility lies with the parents.  "We want to make sure families can provide a stimulating environment for the child so they're able to have their brains grow and develop."

Today's "Great Start Collaborative Genesee Breakfast" featured a seminar with Rob Grunewald, an associate economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. He believes if Flint-area businesses spend the money to support pre-school education, it will all pay off in the future.

"When kids come to kindergarten prepared for school, they'll do better, and are more likely to graduate on time. They earn more money in the work force, and they're less likely to commit crime."

"Economists say that investing in early childhood education isn't necessarily about the here and now. It's a way of actually grooming the kids, who, 25 years from now, will serve as the business leaders of our community.

"Phase one is what we're doing with the development of downtown. Phase two is these kids. These kids will be the future of this community," Grunewald said.

www.abc12.com