Active & Expanded (2026)
Michigan Tri-Share Child Care — The National Model
Michigan pioneered the Tri-Share model and remains the gold standard. The 2026 expansion includes Care-Share for all income levels and $4.5M+ in state funding across 11 regional hubs.
$4.5M+
Annual State Funding
11
Regional Hubs
~67%
Employer Savings
83
Counties Covered
Active
Program Status
45F
Federal Credit Available
All
Employers Eligible
⚖️ How the Cost Split Works
Employer Pays
~33%
of total tuition
Michigan Pays
~33%
via state match
Parent Pays
~33%
of total tuition
Michigan Pays
~33%
state match
Parent Pays
~33%
of total tuition
📊 The Michigan Savings Stack
| Benefit Layer | Small Business (<$32M) | Large Business |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Tri-Share Match | ~$4,000/child/yr | ~$4,000/child/yr |
| Federal 45F Credit (2026) | 50% of employer share | 40% of employer share |
| Net Employer Cost | ~$2,000/child/yr | ~$2,400/child/yr |
💰 Real-World Employer Savings
| Cost Component | Without Program | With Michigan Stack |
|---|---|---|
| Annual infant care cost | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| Michigan State Match (33%) | $0 | -$4,000 |
| Parent Share (33%) | $0 | -$4,000 |
| Employer Share before 45F | $12,000 | $4,000 |
| Federal 45F Credit (50% of employer share) | $0 | -$2,000 |
| Net Employer Cost | $12,000 | $2,000/yr |
Michigan employers save ~83% on child care costs by stacking Tri-Share + Federal 45F Credit
📋 Available Programs & Incentives
Michigan Tri-Share Child Care Program
Active Tri-Share
Employer/State/Employee — each pays ~1/3 of cost
Eligibility: Employers with 2+ employees, children under age 13, families at 125-250% FPL
Michigan CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program)
State Subsidy
Sliding-scale co-pay for families below 125% FPL
Eligibility: Families at or below 125% FPL
Federal Section 45F Credit
Federal Tax Credit
Up to 50% of employer costs (max $600K/yr)
Eligibility: All U.S. employers with qualifying child care expenses
Great Start to Quality Rating
State Program
Quality ratings for child care providers
Eligibility: Licensed Michigan child care providers
Duo-Share (Employer + Employee)
Employer Benefit
Flexible split — employer covers 25–75%
Eligibility: Any Michigan employer, no state program required
📍 Geographic Coverage
Tri-Share and employer child care programs are available to employers and families across all cities and counties in this state. Key areas include:
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Michigan's Tri-Share program splits child care costs three ways: the employer pays approximately one-third, the state pays one-third, and the employee pays one-third. This makes child care affordable for working families who earn too much for traditional subsidies but too little to afford full market rates.
Employees must work for a participating employer, have children under age 13, and earn between 125% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Employers must have at least 2 employees and agree to pay their share of child care costs.
Employers typically pay $200–$400 per month per participating employee, depending on the child care provider and number of children. The Federal Section 45F Tax Credit can offset up to 50% of this cost, making the net employer cost as low as $100–$200 per month.
Michigan Tri-Share operates through regional hubs across the state, including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Marquette, and Saginaw. Contact your regional hub for enrollment information.
Contact the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) at michigan.gov/mileap or find your nearest regional hub. The enrollment process typically takes 2–4 weeks.
Great Start to Quality is Michigan's quality rating and improvement system for child care providers. Only providers with a rating of 3 stars or higher are eligible to participate in the Tri-Share program.
Yes — Michigan employers participating in Tri-Share can also claim the Federal Section 45F Credit on their employer contributions. This can reduce the employer's net cost by up to 50%, making Tri-Share extremely cost-effective.