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Michigan lawmakers are investigating a childcare provider that received more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded childcare reimbursements, despite allegations that it did not operate out of its listed address.
The investigation centers on First Premier Learning Academy and Daycare in Clinton Township and was launched by the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on State and Local Public Assistance Programs.
According to an investigative report, the facility received $1,121,641 in Child Development and Care (CDC) program reimbursements between fiscal years 2023 and 2026, yet committee staff said repeated visits to the site found no evidence that children were being cared for at the advertised location.
The facility is listed at 39781 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, but investigators said the address is occupied by Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, a daycare whose state license is listed as closed.
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Michigan lawmakers are investigating whether a childcare provider that received more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-funded reimbursements was operating out of its listed address. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
Investigators also said they were unable to locate an active childcare license for First Premier Learning Academy and Daycare.
Committee staff said they also attempted to contact the daycare during advertised business hours, but could not reach anyone, with all calls ending up at the answering service.
During a site visit on 12 June, committee staff reported that the building was locked despite being open during advertised business hours. Investigators said lights were on inside but no employees or children were visible.
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Lawmakers said the facility’s outdoor play area appeared unused during a site visit in June. (Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee)
A nearby commercial tenant told investigators that he had never seen children at that location, although he reported occasionally seeing construction activity.
Representative Jason Woolford, chairman of the subcommittee, made his visit on June 15. According to the report, despite repeated knocking no one opened the front door.
Investigators said Woolford found an outdoor play area with an asphalt fence with grass growing through the sidewalk, an old playground adjacent to the building and chairs outside that were filled with rainwater.
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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 the back door was open, but no one answered when Woolford called inside.
Employees at the neighboring café told Woolford that they never saw children enter the café.
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.
One of those entities, Premier MI Network Clinton TWP., doing business as First Premier Learning Academy and Daycare, is receiving approximately $1.12 million in CDC reimbursements between fiscal years 2023 and 2026, the report said.
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The oversight committee said its investigation was continuing and no criminal charges had been announced.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Premier Early Childhood Education Partners for comment.
