Tri-Share Child Care Overview
The Michigan Women’s Commission awarded a $300,000 grant to the Saginaw Intermediate School District on behalf of the Great Lakes Bay Region to act as one of three regions across the State of Michigan to pilot the MI Tri-Share Child Care Program. This program will assist qualifying employees, who work with participating regional employers, with child care expenses. Through the program, child care expenses are shared by an employer, the employee, and the State of Michigan with each contributing one-third of the costs.
Employer Eligibility and Benefits
The program is open to employers located within Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw Counties. Participating employers must agree to identify and recruit eligible employees, cover one-third of each participating employee's child care costs, and maintain communication with the facilitator hub regarding each employee's continued employment and eligibility. There are many reasons why employers should consider participating:
- Assists employees with more affordable child care costs
- Removes one barrier to employment
- Develops and strengthens the talent pipeline
- Helps with employee recruitment and retention
- Opportunities to qualify for tax credits (contact your tax advisor)
Employee Eligibility and Benefits
Eligible employees must be employed by a participating employer located within Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, and Saginaw Counties and have an income above 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and have an income below 250% of the FPL, and not otherwise be eligible for the Child Development and Care Program (commonly called the child care subsidy). Hubs may request, on behalf of employers, a variance from Michigan Women's Commision (WMC), if higher income eligibility is requested. Some flexibility and/or waivers may apply to eligibility requirements for employees that are over 250% FPL. Employee eligibility will be determined on employee's family size and household income (total monthly household income of all contributing adults who live in the home). Once an employee is deemed eligible, they are eligible for the entire year of the pilot. Employees must pay one-third the cost of child care. There are many reasons why employees should consider participating:
- Provides financial relief by reducing out-of-pocket child care costs
- Addresses employee challenges in relation to child care
- Alleviates the burden of finding available openings at high-quality child care centers
- Improves work-life-family balance by providing high-quality, affordable child care solutions
- Removes one barrier to seeking employment or maintaining employment
