New York is taking another major step toward universal child care, with a new pilot program and billions in long-term investments aimed at lowering costs for families statewide.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced a child care expansion pilot that will partner the state with Monroe, Dutchess, and Broome counties. The effort is part of a broader $4.5 billion plan to deliver universal child care for all New York children under age five.
The pilot includes $60 million in state funding, paired with new county investments, to expand child care options with a focus on children ages 0 to 3. Hochul unveiled the plan during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Irene Skalny Childcare Center in Penfield, a new YMCA facility that opened with more than $1.5 million in state support.
Monroe County pilot leads the way
The Monroe County pilot is designed to open new child care seats regardless of family income and address gaps in areas known as child care deserts.
The Irene Skalny Childcare Center serves children from six weeks to five years old and is located at the Eastside Family YMCA. County leaders say the center fills a critical need and allows parents to stay in or reenter the workforce while strengthening the local economy.
County Executive Adam Bello said access to affordable, high-quality child care is foundational to a healthy community and praised the state’s continued investment during a time of uncertainty for providers.
Universal Pre-K and expanded subsidies
The child care pilot is part of a broader package Hochul outlined in her State of the State agenda.
The governor plans to achieve truly universal Pre-K for all four-year-olds by the 2028–29 school year. The state will fund new seats and boost funding for existing programs to at least $10,000 per child, or the district’s foundation aid level, whichever is higher.
Hochul is also continuing a major expansion of child care subsidies. The state has more than doubled investment in the Child Care Assistance Program since she took office, now serving about 170,000 children. Most participating families pay no more than $15 per week.
The governor’s latest proposal adds $1.2 billion in new funding for subsidies, bringing total available support to more than $3 billion.
NYC 2-Care and workforce support
In New York City, Hochul is proposing a new “2-Care” initiative that would offer free child care for two-year-olds. The state would fully fund the program’s first two years, starting in high-need neighborhoods before expanding citywide.
The plan also creates a new Office of Child Care and Early Education to oversee universal Pre-K, 3K, 2-Care, vouchers, and workforce support. Additional proposals focus on expanding early childhood educator training and strengthening college pathways for child care workers.
Tax credits and regional investment
Hochul also plans to expand the child and dependent care tax credit, delivering an average additional benefit of $575 to about 230,000 families. The state will review employer tax incentives to better support workplace child care options.
In Monroe County, the child care announcement ties into a larger $300 million Rochester-Monroe Transformation Initiative aimed at downtown revitalization, housing, and infrastructure, including major investments near High Falls State Park.
State and local lawmakers say the combined proposals represent a historic shift in how New York supports working families.
Hochul framed the effort as a long-term commitment.
“My mission to deliver universal child care for all is a multi-year plan for the entire state,” she said, calling it central to making New York more affordable and the best place to raise a family.
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