Michigan legislators are scrutinizing a childcare provider that collected more than $1.1 million in taxpayer-backed childcare reimbursements amid claims that it may not be operating from the address it publicly lists.
The probe focuses on 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare in Clinton Township and was opened by the Michigan House Oversight Subcommittee on State & Local Public Assistance Programs.
An investigative report says the provider was paid $1,121,641 through the Child Development & Care (CDC) Program between fiscal years 2023 and 2026. However, committee staff reported that multiple visits to the site turned up no signs that children were being cared for at the location being advertised.
The business lists its address as 39781 Garfield Road in Clinton Township, but investigators said the site is occupied by Kidz in Motion Early Learning Institute, a daycare with a state license marked as closed.
Investigators further reported that they could not find an active childcare license connected to 1st Premier Learning Academy & Daycare.
Committee staff said they also tried calling the daycare during its posted operating hours, but no one answered directly and each call was routed to an answering service.
On June 12, committee staff visited the address and said they found the building locked, even though it was supposed to be open according to its advertised hours.
According to investigators, lights appeared to be on inside the building, but they did not see any employees or children present.
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.
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.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Premier Early Childhood Education Partners for comment.
