February 29, 2024 Avilla Area Chamber Team
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 live in Noble County, 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. The West Noble School Corporation received matching funds for their Tri-Share contribution when they opted in to the program in the fall.
“West Noble School Corporation is always interested in helping our employees any way that we can,” said Superintendent Dr. Nate Lowe. “Since this is a new venture and uncharted territory, it was helpful to see buy-in from other community organizations. We did not want to shoulder the burden alone. Matching funds from the Noble County Community Foundation definitely helped push us over the edge on this partnership.”
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).