Childcare Resources for Employers & Entrepreneurs
The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance is a partner in the U.P. Regional Child Care Coalition.
We can connect you with local resources, technical assistance, and programs that support both employers and childcare entrepreneurs.
For more information, please contact Mindy Meyers at mindy.meyers@daeda.org.
MI Tri-Share Child Care Program
MI Tri-Share is a Michigan workforce development program that makes childcare more affordable by splitting the cost three ways: one-third paid by the employee, one-third by the employer, and one-third by the State of Michigan.
The program is for Michigan employers and working parents with household incomes between 201% and 325% of the Federal Poverty Level. Funds can be used for any licensed childcare provider serving children ages 0–17, including preschool, before/after school care, and summer programs.
For participating employers, MI Tri-Share is a recruitment and retention tool — a meaningful, low-cost benefit that helps your employees stay in the workforce.
To learn more or get started in the Upper Peninsula, contact MARESA, the regional hub for MI Tri-Share. Visit MITriShare.org for additional program details.
Starting a Childcare Business in Michigan
Michigan needs more licensed childcare providers — and there are resources to help you get there.
The State of Michigan offers a step-by-step guide to licensure covering all three license types:
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Family Child Care Home — care for 1–6 unrelated children in your home
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Group Child Care Home — care for 7–12 unrelated children in your home
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Child Care Center — care in a commercial facility for any number of children under 13
The process includes steps like background checks, CPR/first aid certification, health inspections, and an orientation before your initial license is issued.
Resources for aspiring childcare providers:
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Step-by-Step Guide to Child Care Licensure in Michigan — a plain-language walkthrough of the licensure process.
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Michigan Child Care Licensing Bureau (MiLEAP) — licensing rules, applications, the CCHIRP provider portal, and additional resources from the state agency that oversees licensure.
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Michigan Child Care Mapping Project (MSU) — interactive maps showing where childcare deserts exist, provider counts by county, and scholarship usage data — useful for understanding where new providers are most needed.
We work to make the Dickinson area a robust community to do business and live and work.
