The Moore County Chamber of Commerce, Partners for Children & Families and the Smart Start Network proudly announce NC Tri-Share Week, taking place from March 17-21, 2025, for employers. The groups will have an event open to employers for their region at the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County located at 351 Wagoner Dr., in the Charles Morris Room in Fayetteville, NC on Thursday, March 20 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.

This week-long initiative highlights the NC Tri-Share Child Care Program, an innovative for employer’s public-private partnership that shares the price of childcare equally among employers, eligible employees and the State. The program helps working families access high-quality, affordable childcare while supporting businesses, stabilizing childcare providers and stabilizing childcare providers.

“We look forward to collaborating even more closely with the employers to help businesses learn more about Tri-Share and the ways it will be an effective tool for employee retention and recruitment,” said Stuart Mills, Executive Director of Partners for Children & Families in a press release.

NC Tri-Share Week is an opportunity for businesses to learn how they can participate in this innovative program and the advantages it offers. By joining NC Tri-Share, employers can:

•  Enhance employee retention and satisfaction by offering childcare benefits.
•  Attract top talent by providing a competitive benefits package.
•  Improve workplace productivity by reducing employee stress related to childcare costs.
• Strengthen community ties by supporting local childcare providers.

Employers are encouraged to attend an in-person or virtual session to learn how NC Tri- Share can directly benefit their workforce and business operations.

Virtual meetings will be available for those unable to attend in person. These virtual sessions will be held Monday-Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. from March 17-21, 2025. These sessions provide businesses with an opportunity to gain more experience about the benefits of NC Tri-Share. Employers interested in participating can register online at www.smartstart.org/trishare.

“Childcare costs are one of the most significant financial burdens facing working families today, rivaling the cost of college tuition” said Linda Parsons, President and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce in a press release. “Through NC Tri-Share, we are able to offer a viable option to make childcare more affordable for families and to help businesses attract and retain employees across our community, region and state.”

The Tri-Share model has seen success in Michigan, where 82% of employees reported they were more likely to stay in their jobs due to the program. North Carolina aims to build on this success by expanding access to high-quality childcare through employer and state partnerships.

Moore County was selected as a pilot for this program in 2024 and has been actively engaging local businesses regarding this program that will assist with increasing retention and recruitment. The County proud that St. Joseph of the Pines is one of the first companies to adopt this as an employee benefit.

This series is co-hosted by Smart Start and the NC Department of Commerce.