Howard County, MD. – Today, Arinze for Howard County Council District 2 released his newest white paper, “The Cure for Care: A Plan to Cut Childcare Costs by 65%, Support Local Businesses, and Raise Long Term County Revenues.” The proposal outlines a framework for adopting Michigan’s successful Tri-Share childcare model in Howard County as a pilot initiative. In fact, with this roadmap and Arinze’s thoughtful leadership, Howard County can set the standard in Maryland for how to balance strong families with strong economic growth. Visit www.voteforarinze.com/about to learn more about his campaign.

“Howard County is recognized as one of the best places to live and raise children, but rising childcare costs are forcing parents into impossible choices,” said Arinze Ifekauche, candidate for Howard County Council District 2. “Thankfully, there’s a simple and effective path forward that can benefit everyone. By adopting a ‘Tri-Share’ model, we can provide real financial relief to working families, help employers recruit and retain talent, and grow our economy by ensuring more residents remain in the workforce—with the ability to spend more at local businesses. Now all we need is the right leadership to see this plan through.”

Under the ‘Tri-Share’ model, the cost of childcare is divided equally among three parties: the employee, participating employers, and the county. This partnership would 1.) reduce financial strain on families by lowering costs and enabling two parents to earn salaries; 2.) improve employer competitiveness by incentivizing current and prospective employees to work for participating employers; and 3.), boost county and business revenues by keeping more parents in the workforce, earning salaries and spending more in our community.

This is significant, because according to the Maryland Comptroller’s Office, “Child care could be one key reason for Maryland’s post-pandemic depressed labor force participation rates,” especially among mothers with young children. Arinze’s solution would build on Michigan’s successful Tri-Share program, which launched in 2021. A 2024 evaluation of the program found that:

• 97 % of families said Tri-Share improved their financial stability.
  

• 71 % of employees reported that the program helped them remain employed, with 80 percent believing it would help them stay employed in the future; meanwhile
  

• 64 % of employers agreed that Tri-Share makes them more competitive in recruiting against other businesses.
  

Further, in 2012, researchers in Quebec studied the economic impact of a public program offering universal low-cost childcare access to working families. They found that in Quebec, doing so “induced nearly 70,000 more mothers to hold jobs than if no such program had existed,” increasing the local GDP by about $5 billion.

To achieve similar results for Howard County, Arinze’s proposal calls for a pilot program run through a county agency or nonprofit facilitator. The county would cap its financial commitment by limiting the number of childcare slots it sponsors each year, while employers would opt in voluntarily. Eligible families earning between 200 and 400 percent of the federal poverty line (about $62,000 to $125,000 for a family of four) would qualify. 

Most importantly, Arinze’s affordable childcare proposal builds on his platform for “Creating a Thriving Local Economy,” which focuses on attracting new employers, supporting small businesses, and preparing Howard County’s workforce for the future. Together, these priorities reflect his vision for a county where families can thrive, businesses can grow, and the local economy stays strong. It’s a bold agenda with a simple message: if we invest in families, we build a stronger Howard County for everyone.

Read the Cure for Care white paper at this link. For interviews or to speak with experts on childcare affordability, please contact the campaign.

Arinze (ah-wren-zay) Ifekauche (if-uh-koo-chey) is a 39-year-old political strategist who has spent nearly two decades working in public policy and grassroots organizing on Capitol Hill, as well as State and Local government. Now, as a policy and communications staffer at the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention & Policy, Arinze works to keep our neighborhoods—and children—safe.