For working parents, finding childcare can be difficult, especially here in Northern Michigan.
Traverse City Tourism, along with the state, are joining together for a new program, called the MI Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program, to help families in the hospitality industry afford childcare.
“It’s a unique opportunity for a business like Traverse City Tourism to partner with the state to provide support for families,” said Trevor Tkach, Traverse City Tourism President and CEO.
Any lodging partners with the tourism organization are eligible to participate.
“The state is committed funds to help support childcare,” said Tkach. “They bring a third of the money forward, Traverse City Tourism will match with another third, and then the family then provides the remaining third.”
To qualify, parents must have household income between 150% to 250% of federal poverty guidelines. For example, a family of four would have a household income between $39,750 to $66,250 to qualify.
“It’s about giving workers peace of mind that their children are safe while they’re at work,” said Tkach. “That’s really what’s most important.”
One of those participating businesses, Black Star Farms, has had employees leave because they couldn’t afford childcare. Managing Owner Sherri Campbell Fenton says that’s been common throughout other lodging companies in the Grand Traverse area.
“They might be fully occupied, but that ‘fully occupied’ means that they only have a certain percentage of their rooms that are available to be rented, and that is because they don’t have enough staff,” said Campbell Fenton.
The program also provides resources for finding affordable childcare in the region.
Campbell Fenton says this new program will also be a good addition for new employees.
“To be able to mention in ads that this is part of what we can offer, I think that’s also going to be a good recruiting tool,” she said.
To apply, you can find the link .
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