Research shows that children who enter kindergarten ready to succeed grow to be book-smart, team capable, job-ready workers who help businesses prosper.  (Source: The PEW Center On The States)

Saginaw County businesses understand the importance of investing in young children and their families.  Here are a few ways your business can get involved.

• Join the Great Start Collaborative Board as Business Coalition Partner or join one of our other committees
• Host a Lunch and Learn series at your company
• Learn about our Family-Friendly Business Award
• Support working families with reliable resources and referral linkages
• Earmark corporate charitable funds for early childhood projects

"Quality early education for at-risk children can produce an annual rate of return as high as 16% - higher than most stock portfolios. It should be at the top of any state's economic development agenda." - Art Rolnick, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

SAGINAW - The Saginaw County Great Start Collaborative is honoring Kramer Family Dance Studio, 825 N. Center, with its Family-Friendly Business Spotlight Award for April-May 2013.

Great Start is the umbrella partnership over nearly all early childhood initiatives in Saginaw County, with member agencies/programs including Birth to Five, all Saginaw County school districts, child care providers and preschools.

Parents who volunteer with the Saginaw County Great Start Parent Coalition helped choose this award designation, based on Kramer Family Dance Studio’s mission of providing a safe, family friendly, nurturing environment where children and their families can come.

“We are a studio that lets everyone learn and perform,” said owner Linda Kramer, who also worked in special education for 27 years. “Our goal is to see that ALL dancers have an opportunity to participate and gain confidence.”

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Most businesses in the community have employees who have young children. The Great Start Collaborative (GSC) offers a FREE 6 week educational experience called Lunch & Learn for businesses (large and small) within Saginaw County, If you would like to learn more about the Lunch & Learn program and how it can benefit your employees, contact Julie Kozan at
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