(Press release from Thrive by 5 January 30, 2024)

Kendallville, IN – The Community Foundation of Noble County, on behalf of Thrive by 5, has received an Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund Grant from the state to match employer investments in the Noble Count Tri-Share Program.

The Tri-Share Program addresses child care affordability for families by splitting the cost of care three ways: funding from the Noble County Commissioners, funding from employers, and funding from the family.

Families who have a child or children in a participating child care program and earn between 150% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level ($45,000 to $90,000 for a family of four) could qualify for enrollment in the Tri-Share Program. When their employer opts-in and invests through the Community Foundation of Noble County to support their workers with the cost of child care, the grant from the Employer-Sponsored Child Care fund will double their investment, up to $5,000.

Nationally, “affordable” child care is defined as paying 7% or less of an annual household income on child care costs. Applicants to the Noble County Tri-Share Program are paying as much as 37% as a single parent.

The Tri-Share matching funds are available until the grant – totaling $26,250, is used up, or December 31, 2024 (whichever comes first).

Noble County’s Tri-Share Program was recently featured in EdSurge, a digital news and research magazine about education.