Louisville-Based Nonprofit Announces Launch of Quality+ Pilot, Supporting 26 Early Learning Centers
Louisville, Ky., December 3, 2025 – Thrive By 5 Louisville (TB5L), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit launched through the leadership of Mayor Craig Greenberg and dedicated to strengthening early childhood education citywide, today announced the launch of Quality+ Pilot, a first-of-its-kind investment to improve the quality, stability, and accessibility of child care in Louisville. Over the next two years, Thrive By 5 will partner with 26 early learning centers to implement comprehensive supports that strengthen the early childhood workforce, improve learning environments, and help families find and afford high-quality care.
Quality+ Pilot is part of TB5L’s broader mission to build a strong early childhood ecosystem, one that ensures every child has a safe, enriching place to learn, and every family can work, grow, and thrive. The pilot advances three core areas identified in the organization’s guiding framework: workforce development, family assistance, and high-quality learning environments.
Selected centers will receive individualized support through an Action Plan, dedicated coaching from a Provider Specialist, facilities improvement funding, professional development investments, and assistance to help families navigate and access child care.
“Quality+ Pilot is a major step forward in how Louisville supports young children, families, and the educators who care for them,” said Reylene Robinson, Executive Director of TB5L. “This is the first investment of its kind in our child care sector. By focusing on educator development, strengthening learning environments, and helping families find and afford quality care, we’re creating the conditions where children thrive and families are supported. Today is a milestone, but it’s also the beginning. What we learn from this pilot will guide future expansion across every corner of our city.” The selection process for Quality+ Pilot was intentionally thorough to ensure participating centers were prepared to fully benefit from the pilot’s two-year structure. Centers were evaluated on eligibility, compliance, readiness, leadership capacity, and ability to make measurable progress in quality and access within the pilot window.
“Families and educators are at the heart of this work, and they represent the very purpose of Thrive By 5,” said Ashley Novak Butler, Board Chair of TB5L and Executive Director of Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation. “This effort is about expanding opportunity, strengthening stability, and ensuring high-quality care for Louisville’s youngest learners. Quality+ Pilot is a citywide initiative to strengthen child care, support working families, and build a stronger workforce for Louisville’s future. Now is the time to move from identifying the problem to implementing solutions—and today shows that we have the leadership, the resources, and the plan to get it done.”
Mayor Craig Greenberg celebrated the launch as a significant moment in Louisville’s commitment to early childhood education.
“Our city is stronger when more children in every neighborhood have access to quality early childhood learning opportunities,” said Mayor Greenberg. “Through investment and action, I’ve made this a priority, and I’m proud to support Thrive By 5 as we continue to expand and support early learning in Louisville.”
The 26 centers selected for Quality+ Pilot represent a diverse cross-section of Louisville’s early learning landscape. Centers not selected for this initial cohort will continue to have access to Thrive By 5’s broader offerings, including educator supports through the UpLift Fund, family navigation assistance, citywide quality initiatives, and future opportunities to participate in subsequent Quality+ cohorts.
Quality+ Pilot is a critical early step in building a fully supported early childhood education sector in Louisville—one where all the necessary resources are in place to ensure high-quality, accessible, and sustainable care for young children.
For more information on Thrive By 5 Louisville and Quality+ Pilot, click here.
About Thrive By 5 Louisville:
Thrive By 5 Louisville (TB5L) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to quality childcare for three- and four-year-olds in Louisville, KY. Established in 2024 as an independent 501(c)(3), TB5L supports existing early learning providers by leveraging public and philanthropic funding to recruit and retain early educators, improve childcare facilities, and provide financial assistance to families. TB5L emerged from the Mayor’s Early Learning Action Group (MELAG), which was formed by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg in 2023 to address the critical need for expanded early childhood education in the community.