Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled a $110 million Child Care Construction Fund on Tuesday, aiming to expand and renovate child care facilities across New York to address widespread child care deserts. The proposal, part of her 2025 State of the State agenda, also introduces measures to stabilize the child care workforce and lay the groundwork for universal child care in the state.
“As a young mom, I had to leave a job I loved because we couldn’t find child care. No parent in New York should be forced to make that choice,” Governor Hochul said. “These new proposals will make a real difference in making child care more affordable and accessible for all New Yorkers.”
The proposed Child Care Construction Fund will allocate grants to both nonprofit and for-profit child care centers, as well as school-age programs, to build new facilities or repair existing ones. A portion of the funding will be reserved specifically for family-based child care providers to renovate their facilities. The initiative also includes technical assistance from the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to help providers access funding efficiently.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, Hochul’s plan proposes the creation of a “Substitute Pool” of pre-vetted child care professionals. This pool aims to prevent facility closures caused by staff absences, ensuring reliability for families and reducing operational disruptions for providers.
The governor is also launching the New York Coalition for Child Care, a collaboration among business leaders, labor unions, child care providers, and tax experts. The coalition will focus on developing a sustainable pathway toward achieving universal child care access in the state. Their work will prioritize affordability for middle-class families who currently fall outside eligibility requirements for income-based subsidies.
Roberta Reardon, Commissioner of the Department of Labor, praised the plan, saying, “These strategic investments will strengthen New York State’s child care system to be safe, affordable, and accessible, enabling more parents to be a part of our workforce.”
Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden, OCFS Commissioner, emphasized the long-term impact of the initiative, noting, “These proposals, coupled with the Child Care Availability Task Force’s framework, will get New York State closer to the goal of universal child care.”
Governor Hochul’s latest proposal builds upon her previous $7 billion investment in child care accessibility and affordability. Past initiatives included increasing eligibility thresholds for child care assistance, raising reimbursement rates for providers, and launching an online portal for child care applications.
State officials and advocates have expressed optimism about the proposal’s potential to address structural gaps in New York’s child care system. Mary E. Sullivan, President of the Civil Service Employees Association, described the plan as “a vital step forward for working families, childcare providers, and the state, fostering both immediate and long-term growth.”
Governor Hochul’s agenda reflects her administration’s continued focus on reducing financial burdens on families, supporting child care providers, and building a more resilient workforce.
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