Nonprofit introduces a dollar for dollar match from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth on company’s investment in child care benefits
Cleveland – Today Starting Point announced a new employer benefit fund for companies with operations in Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood to receive a dollar-for-dollar match from the Department of Children and Youth on investments in child care benefits for employees.
The program is seeking companies to enroll in 2025 to launch benefits for employees in 2026. Median contribution per qualifying employee is $100 from the company and a generous dollar for dollar match from the State of Ohio, doubling impact to provide at least $200 per month to a licensed child care provider of the employee’s choice.
Employers across Northeast Ohio are feeling the crunch of the national child care affordability and accessibility crisis. According to the 2024 Early Matters NEO Report, Greater Cleveland businesses lose more than $121 million in productivity annually due to inadequate child care for employees. That same report shares that 7 out of 10 parents have been negatively impacted at work due to inadequate child care.
Two hundred dollars is no small impact on a family’s child care bill with median monthly child care costs for an infant attending full time care in Midtown reported at $1,113, according to Starting Point’s 2024 Landscape Assessment. That’s 18% off—with the proportion of the bill covered rising as the age of the child does and care gets less expensive.
This flexible model, from company contribution to which employees qualify, can be customized. Ensuring that qualifying employees can find care without interruption is Starting Point’s Child Care Referral Services.
“For 35 years, Starting Point has been the heart of child care in Northeast Ohio. With affordability and access impacting companies’ ability to recruit and retain talent, employers can’t afford to sit this conversation out,” said Nancy Mendez, President & CEO. “The MidTown Child Care Benefit Fund is a powerful way to match investments in care, and we encourage every company, no matter their budget or location, to connect with Starting Point to explore child care options for their employees.”
The Cleveland Foundation, which moved its headquarters to MidTown in 2023 and recently opened the MidTown Collaboration Center next door, has led efforts to convene partners and local businesses to drive awareness and interest in the pilot program. The foundation has been a long-time supporter of Starting Point, investing more than $5 million since 2020 in efforts around child care and out-of-school time.
“Access to quality child care drives family stability and economic opportunity and sets up children for success,” said Lillian Kuri, President & CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. “We are proud to invest in this work and believe that bringing together partners to ensure high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care is a transformative opportunity for the future of Northeast Ohio.”
MidTown Cleveland is a key partner in the launch of the program, connecting businesses to the opportunity: “We are grateful to the State of Ohio for recognizing this need for our families and thrilled to support this exciting program for MidTown-based employers,” said Ashley Shaw, Executive Director of Midtown Cleveland. “The MidTown Child Care Benefit Fund is yet another reason why MidTown is a dynamic place to live, work, and grow your company.”
Interested companies can contact Starting Point directly at 216.575.0061 or use the referral form to have a representative reach out: https://starting-point.org/community/business-partnerships/
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Starting Point
Starting Point has a 35-year legacy as the go-to organization for families, child care providers, and the Northeast Ohio community for the resources they need to give children the quality care, learning, and activities that lead to success in school and in life. Starting Point provides 18 services to 24,000 families, children, and providers each year in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. Learn more about our mission: WWW.Starting-Point.org
