Northwest Wayne News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) last month added seven additional programs that focus on expanding child care accessibility. She included $2.5 million in her budget recommendations to continue support for the Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program.

The partnership will allow better access to high-quality and cost-friendly child care while retaining and enticing talent. Tri-Share covers 59 counties in Michigan plus Detroit, according to a press release from the governor's office.

"Expanding access to high-quality, affordable child care will help every kid succeed from day one and help parents get back to work, knowing that their kids are safe and cared for," Whitmer said in the release. "We must continue investing in programs like Tri-Share that put Michiganders first and help us grow our economy." 

The cost of childcare via Tri-Care is shared in equal parts by eligible workers, their employer, and the State of Michigan, provided by a regional facilitator hub, the release said.

"The pandemic has only exacerbated the reality that without affordable child care, less parents can fully participate in the workforce," Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said in the release. "As we continue down the path of building a new, better economy for Michiganders, we must find ways to decrease the costs that put stress on family budgets, like child care." 

Every hub will serve as a mediator between employers, child care providers, and families. Each hub will additionally provide program oversight, according to the release.

The new facilitator hubs include: St. Clair RESA, serving St. Clair County; Southwest Child Care Resources, serving Kalamazoo County; Vibrant Futures, serving Kent County; Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership, serving Shiawassee County; Child Care Network, serving Branch, Genesee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, and Washtenaw Counties; Marquette-Alger RESA, serving all of the Upper Peninsula, including Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft Counties; and Otsego County Economic Alliance, Inc., serving Otsego, Crawford, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Oscoda Counties.

Before serving as Michigan's governor, Whitmer was an attorney, educator, prosecutor, state representative, and senator, according to her website. She is a lifelong Michigander and lives in Lansing.