January 30, 2026

Inside the Child Care Cred Program: A Cost-Sharing Approach to Child Care

In partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), the Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance hosted a webinar on the 2026 Child Care Cred Program. This program helps make childcare more affordable by splitting costs between participating employees, their employers, and the state (40/40/20) and will help employers attract and retain talent, assist employees with childcare costs, and sustain the businesses of childcare programs.

During this webinar, Joel Potts, DCY’s Chief Government and External Affairs Officer, provided an overview of the program, explained eligibility requirements, shared insights on the application process, and participated in a lively Q&A discussion. The ACAA strives to bring together industry experts, policy makers, and stakeholders to discuss key issues shaping Ohio’s future.

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Meeting Materials

Upcoming Events

Coming Up: ACAA Columbus Drive-In

Business owners and leaders: this is your opportunity to get face-to-face with Ohio policymakers! Join us for our annual Day in Columbus on Wednesday, February 11 from 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM at the Ohio Statehouse, where you can share your priorities, discuss the State Capital Budget, and address key issues affecting your business and community.

The day will feature speakers and Q&A sessions, with food and refreshments throughout the day. As of this email, the list of confirmed speakers includes:

Senate President Rob McColley
Senator Jerry Cirino, Chair, Senate Finance Committee
Senator Jane Timken, Chair, Higher Education Committee and Vice Chair, Housing Committee
Representative Bill Roemer, Chair, Ways and Means Committee
Representative Dave Thomas, Vice Chair, Ways and Means Committee
Representative Jack Daniels, Vice Chair, Transportation Committee
Director Lydia Mihalik, Ohio Department of Development
Director Kim Murnieks, Ohio Office of Budget and Management

Following the formal meetings/presentations at the Statehouse, we’ll also be hosting an exclusive post-event networking reception with elected officials and attendees at Roetzel’s Columbus office (41 South High Street, Huntington Center, 21st Floor, Columbus, OH 43215 – directly across the street from the Statehouse) that will include food and drinks.

For questions or more information, contact Daisha Okolo, Coordinator.

Join Our Next ACAA Meeting on March 20

The ACAA hosted its first meeting of 2026 which was followed by a networking reception on Friday, January 16 at the Greater Akron Chamber. This event provided members with a year-end recap highlighting 2025 efforts including legislative wins and updates regarding our 2026 Action Plan.

Join us for the next ACAA Meeting on Friday, March 20 from 8:30-10:00 AM at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Contact John Rizzo to register.

D.C. Fly-In: Ohio Birthday Party

The Ohio Birthday Party marks the annual celebration of Ohio becoming a state which features a variety of events and meetings on Capitol Hill.

The ACAA will be hosting members in D.C. on March 4 and is planning a series of meetings with our congressional delegation to continue federal advocacy efforts on several key policy and funding initiatives. If you are interested in attending, contact John Rizzo.

The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance is a collaboration of the Greater Akron Chamber and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce to represent the needs of our 4,500 members and engage with elected officials and policymakers for the benefit of the Akron-Canton region.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

For more information, contact John Rizzo, Vice President, at jrizzo@akroncantonadvocacy.org or Daisha Okolo, Coordinator, at dokolo@akroncantonadvocacy.org.

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