SBAM applauds expanded access to child care through MI Tri-Share Child Care program

LANSING – The Small Business Association of Michigan today applauded the expansion of the MI Tri-Share Child Care Program, designed to increase access to high-quality, affordable child care for working families.

“The child care crisis is greatly impacting Michigan’s small businesses as employees with young children struggle to find quality care,” said SBAM President and CEO Brian Calley. “High-quality, consistent and affordable care creates proper stability for employers and parents, which is why the Tri-Share program is such a game changer for everyone.”

The Tri-Share program splits the cost of child care equally by an eligible employee, their employer and the State of Michigan, with coordination provided regionally by a facilitator hub. This week the State of Michigan announced the addition of seven new facilitator hubs for the program, which now means Tri-Share, which was launched in March 2021, has 10 facilitator hubs and now covers 59 of Michigan’s 83 counties.

SBAM has been a longtime advocate in finding solutions to deal with the child care crisis and participated in a coalition of business voices, legislators, state leaders and children advocacy groups to come up with the Tri-Share system.

“Tri-Share is a prime example of what happens when everyone puts their heads together to solve a problem for the greater good,” Alexa Kramer, SBAM’s Director of Government Operations. “This program is helping tackle a workforce barrier for employees, providing more affordable child care to families and more child care providers enrolling children full time.” 

For more information about Tri-Share, visit Michigan.gov/Tri-Share.