VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. -- Officials with Flowers Early Learning announced all of their locations are currently closed following the White House order to pause all federal grant funds.

Flowers relies on federal Head Start funds to ensure school readiness for children 0 to 5.

Flowers has over a dozen locations across southwest Michigan, including Benton Harbor, Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Decatur, and more.

ABC57 News called the administrative office which now goes to voicemail with a message saying all locations remain closed at this time.

Flowers released the following statement to affected families:

"Dear Families,

We are sad to share some urgent, unfortunate news with you.

We are temporarily closing all classrooms effective Wednesday, January 29, 2025 due to a White House order pausing all federal grant funds. Flowers Early Learning has relied on these federal funds to run our program since 1972 and without federal Head Start funds, we cannot pay staff, maintain facilities or sustain current programming. The pause at the federal level will result in Flowers Early Learning temporarily closing effective immediately until the funding becomes available again. We are hopeful that the federal government will release funds soon and we will return to operation as soon as possible.

We are working with our elected officials; the Michigan and National Head Start Associations and other advocacy agencies to resolve this matter as soon as possible. We may need your help to advocate for our program and will be in touch as soon as we have more information. Chanda Hillman, CEO and Executive Director, and Brian Saxton, Flowers Early Learning Board of Directors Chairman, are currently in Washington D.C. advocating for our program and other Head Start agencies.

If you need immediate resources while this matter gets resolved please visit, https://greatstarttoquality.org/ for a list of childcare providers in our area.

We will keep you as updated as possible, and we hope to reopen soon.

Thank you for your patience and understanding,

Flowers Early Learning Team"

On Wednesday, the White House rescinded the original memo that caused the freeze to federal funding. It is unclear how Flowers will move forward following the White House's action.