DOWAGIAC — Cass County Great Start Parent Coalition in April announced a new program to recognize businesses that are family-friendly.

At Cass County Great Start Business Summit at Southwestern Michigan College June 28, Kris Lamphere of Who Knew? consignment in Dowagiac, Porky’s Party Place in Cassopolis and co-sponsor Midwest Energy Cooperative of Cassopolis were recognized as the first nominees to qualify.

Midwest, although parents might not stop in, gives back to the community in numerous ways, from family zoo events to scholarships.

“One of the ideas behind it is recognizing businesses locally that are already working hard to create a family-friendly environment to their employees and other community members. Somebody from the community filled out a form to recognize them,” explained Heather Merrill, Great Start Collaborative coordinator based at Lewis Cass Intermediate School District and a member of Dowagiac’s Disney Way community committee. “Three employers have been nominated, and we want to give them this award in front of all of you.”

Businesses receive a window decal recognizing their family friendliness if they meet at least four family-friendly criteria.

Some examples of criteria are: restrooms with changing stations, diaper dispensers, allowing strollers in the business, automatic opening doors, child entertainment area, booster seats and high chairs.

Nomination forms can be found on the Cass County Great Start website, www.greatstart-cass.org.

Parents are encouraged to nominate a business that meets the minimum standards to be recognized and to encourage businesses to incorporate accommodations to become a family-friendly business.

Contact Melissa Freer-Smith at (269) 757-4038 or mfreersmith@lewiscassisd.org for more information or to nominate a business.

Cass County Great Start Parent Coalition works along with the Cass County Great Start Collaborative, which is made up of parents, clergy, business people and health and human service organization leaders.

The collaborative mission is to insure that every child in Cass County is safe, healthy, prepared and eager to succeed in school and in life.

Together, they are exploring new ways to meet the needs of children, ages 0-5, focusing on:

• Physical health care

• Early care and education

• Social-emotional health care

• Parent leadership and family support

• Basic needs, economic security and child safety

They provide feedback to local agencies, coordinate learning opportunities and activities focusing on early childhood and communicate with legislators about the importance of investing in children.

Cass County Great Start Parent Coalition holds monthly meetings in Cassopolis with free dinner and child care.