MI Tri-Share Expands Across Region 7, Bringing Child Care Cost-Sharing to More Employers and Families
The expansion strengthens child care access, affordability, and workforce solutions.
Lansing, Mich. (Jan. 26, 2026) — Employers across Region 7, including Eaton, Clinton, Ingham, and Shiawassee counties, can now participate in MI Tri-Share, a state-supported employer-based child care cost-sharing program benefit administered by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). The expansion brings a proven child care benefit model to more employers and working families across the region.
MI Tri-Share is Michigan’s nationally recognized child care cost-sharing program that divides the cost of licensed child care equally among the employee, employer, and the State of Michigan. Families qualify for the state’s one-third contribution if their household income falls between 200% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
The expansion of MI Tri-Share in Region 7 aligns with the broader work of the Capital Area Child Care Coalition (CACCC), a regional partnership facilitated by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and co-led by United Way of South Central Michigan and Capital Area Michigan Works!, to strengthen child care access, affordability, and workforce solutions. Through the CACCC, regional partners collaborate to advance initiatives like MI Tri-Share that support working families while addressing talent and economic development needs across the capital region.
“LEAP understands from the business community that affordable and accessible childcare capacity is essential to providing a more reliable work force and LEAP is most pleased that we fought to expand this excellent program to all three counties of our region in 2026,” said LEAP’s president and CEO Bob Trezise. “Childcare should be looked at as essential infrastructure, as much as water or roads, to help our businesses grow. The issue of childcare transcends county borders just as connecting people to jobs transcends county borders.”
As part of MI Tri-Share, employers in Region 7 may also utilize MI Care-Share, an add-on option that allows participating employers to extend their child care cost-sharing benefit to employees who do not meet MI Tri-Share’s income eligibility. Under MI Care-Share, employers contribute one-third of child care costs, while employees cover the remaining two-thirds. Employees who meet MI Tri-Share income eligibility receive the additional one-third contribution from the state, reducing their family’s share to one-third.
“MI Tri-Share helps employers attract and retain staff by helping parents remain in the workforce,” said Shannon Garrett, MiLEAP’s MI Tri-Share Senior Program Advisor. “As a public-private investment, MI Tri-Share and MI Care-Share allow Michigan employers a low-cost way to offer an in-demand workplace benefit, giving them a competitive advantage in talent recruitment.
The Shiawassee Regional Education Service District (RESD) serves as the regional facilitator hub for MI Tri-Share in Region 7. Facilitator hubs recruit employers and employees into the program and provide ongoing support to ensure successful participation.
“This expansion allows us to meet employers and families where they are across Region 7,” said Courtney Herrick, Great Start Collaborative Director, of Shiawassee Regional Education Service District. “By serving as the regional facilitator hub for MI Tri-Share, we can help more employers offer a meaningful child care benefit while supporting working families with reliable, affordable child care options.”
The expansion of MI Tri-Share in Region 7 reflects a continued commitment to strengthening Michigan’s child care system while supporting workforce participation and economic stability for families.
For employers interested in learning more about offering MI Tri-Share as a benefit for their employees, please contact the Region 7 Facilitator Hub: Courtney Herrick at herrick@sresd.org
About LEAP
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders partnering to build a stronger community for all — working every day to grow, retain and attract business to the Lansing, Michigan, region.
Category: Press Releases, Talent and Workforce