A child care provider with young children

Child Care Services

Helping child care businesses thrive

Oakland Thrive offers services to help child care businesses grow in Oakland County — from access to capital to licensing and workforce development.

What we offer

Support built for child care providers

Access to Capital

  • Lender introductions
  • Funding preparation, loan review, loan packaging
  • Pre-seed, seed, and growth capital
  • Revolving loan funds
  • Micro loans
  • SBA real estate loans

Site Location

  • Work with local municipalities
  • Site location assistance

Access to Licensing

  • Guidance on state, county, and local municipality licensing requirements

Workforce Development

  • Professional development resources
  • Continuing education resources and information

Entrepreneurial Support

  • Child care business assistance in every community
  • Educational workshops, seminars, and training sessions
  • Assistance with accreditation and quality applications

Diversification Through Certification

  • Women-owned business enterprise certification
  • Minority-owned business enterprise certification
  • Veteran-owned business enterprise certification

Programs & resources

Programs that lighten the load

From the cost of care to credentials and nutrition funding, we connect you to the programs that help your center and your families.

MI Tri-Share

A program that splits the cost of child care equally between an employer, the employee, and the State of Michigan — easing the burden on families. We help businesses become Tri-Share employers.

CDA Credential Training

The Child Development Associate (CDA®) is a national credential for early educators. We connect you with a CDA training organization to advance your team's professionalism.

Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in care — we help eligible centers access reimbursement.

Funding & Grants

Access child care financing through partners like CEED Lending (Great Lakes Women's Business Council) and Ascendus for expansion and start-up capital.

Partner corner

We're proud of our child care partners

Some of the Oakland County centers we're honored to support.

Oak Park

Little Bear's Learning Center, LLC

Established in 2012 with an emphasis on collaboration between staff, families, and surrounding communities. Serves children from six weeks to 6 years of age.

Troy

Marvelous Child Development Center

A Reggio Emilia-centric preschool focused on creativity, imagination, and critical thinking, with wholesome food, a non-toxic environment, and vast outdoor play space.

Lake Orion · Clarkston · Rochester

Heartfelt Impressions Learning Centers

Programs for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, before- and after-school care for grades K–6, and summer camps — partnering with the Great Start Readiness Program.

Grow your child care business

Schedule a meeting with our consultant and we'll help you connect to capital, licensing, and resources.