Business Innovation in Child Care Spotlight: Alliance Employment Promise

Groundwork Ohio, in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has released a new resource, Business Innovation in Child Care: Case Studies Across Ohio, highlighting how businesses across the state are advancing child care solutions for their employees and communities. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be spotlighting these efforts—sharing real examples of how employers are stepping up to support working families and strengthen Ohio’s workforce and economy.

Begun in 2019, the Alliance Employment Promise was started to preserve and grow Stark County’s workforce. One plank in the promise makes child care more affordable. Employees receive up to $200 per month per child applied toward their child care costs regardless of family income. Families must choose from eight child care providers that collectively have 13 sites. All programs are highly rated under Ohio’s Step Up to Quality initiative. This component of the initiative is administered by the Early Childhood Education Alliance. Four businesses initially participated in the pilot.

Today, six companies are involved. They are: Coastal Pet Products, MAC Trailer, Robertson Heating Supply, Morgan Engineering, Winkle Industries, and Trailstar International.

Subsidies initially were paid fully by the employee’s employer. Beginning in July 2025, a two-year $344,000 Early Care and Business Partnership Grant is supporting expansion.

In the first year, the grant will cover $125 per month toward the employee’s subsidy, with newly participating companies picking up the remainder. In Year 2, the commitment flips, with the employer paying $125, the grant covering $75. Only new participating businesses are eligible for grant dollars. The grant also is being used to assist two child care providers to extend their hours so employees can work 12-hour shifts. That assistance has topped out at about $3,000 per month to support 11 employees working longer shifts.